February | 2012 | Home on the Range Blog

Featured,It's All in the Details

Working with Architect Joe Patrick Robbins

Joe Patrick Robbins, AIA exhibits the best qualities of his profession: creativity, innovation, integrity, versatility of design styles, interest in his clients and a professional, yet relaxed relationship with those with whom he works. Joe is willing to brainstorm solutions on-site in a way that invites the synergy of ideas from the contractors, subcontractors, designers and clients. I believe this willingness contributes to the overall success of the final project and to the homeowners knowing that they have had significant input into the place they will call home.

Joe has been an inspiration to me over the past 12+ years. My knowledge of plans, construction details and finishes has grown and matured due to his unfailing patience and willingness to listen to my thoughts and to explain his reasoning behind various selections and decisions. I have always found Joe to be open to other viewpoints and willing to adapt and change details, unless he feels it impacts the integrity of his vision. Rather than being a prima donna, Joe is humble about his achievements and jokes about himself. That is often when the persona of “Jose” comes out! The “team,” which consists of Joe, the contractor, the clients and me, has had many a laugh during such stressful times as an electric walk-through when the thermometer dipped well below zero, when “Jose” appeared to add levity to the moment.

Joe is more than an architect to his clients, contractors, subcontractors and designers. He has the wonderful ability to develop a friendship that is much longer lasting than just an architect-client relationship. I feel honored to have worked with Joe as well as his computer guru and amazing detail sidekick, Brian, to help create beautiful homes for more than 15 clients over the course of the past dozen or so years.

Projects that were collaborations between Home on the Range and Joe Patrick Robbins have been featured in a number of publications, including Architectural Digest, Steamboat Pilot, Ski Magazine, At Home in Steamboat Springs Magazine, Colorado Homes & Lifestyles, Mountain Living and Steamboat Magazine. Visit jprarchitecture.com to learn more about Joe Patrick Robbins.

—Lynne Bier, Principal and Lead Designer at Home on the Range

Images: Architecture by Joe Patrick Robbins, AIA

February 20, 2012
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Design Tips and Trends,Featured Products,It's All in the Details

Reclaimed Wood in Contemporary Furniture

You might remember our recent blog on mountain rustic bathroom design, http://blog.homeontherangeinteriors.com/featured/mountain-rustic-bathroom-design-inspiration/ illustrating the use of natural materials and reclaimed wood in rustic bathrooms . We have been using reclaimed wood in our designs for the past 15 years, from Old Homestead Ranch style homes to Rustic Contemporary homes. We are now having fun watching its popularity expand to include contemporary homes all over the country and even all over the world. From city lofts to Malibu beach front houses to Swiss ski chalets, reclaimed wood is being used for interior finishes, furniture and bathroom vanities. Part of its current popularity stems from the interest in green design. Re-purposing is a great way to go green, and mixing steel with reclaimed wood gives the furniture a more industrial look that works well in contemporary design. In this blog we are focusing on the use of reclaimed wood in contemporary furniture design and we hope you enjoy looking at some of our favorite pieces!

The reclaimed wood that’s part of this contemporary bath furniture style vanity we spotted on Houzz is a perfect example of mixing steel and reclaimed wood.

Below, we’ve compiled some beautiful contemporary reclaimed wood furniture that would fit perfectly into rustic design.

http://m-cdn.apartmenttherapy.com/system/stores/images/4403/large/il_570xN.264675750.jpg?1323643730

The following three pieces are all from Four Hands:

Tracy Plasma TV Console

Tioga Bed

Orson Coffee Table

And the next two are from Classic Home:

Franklin Four-Door Cabinet

Franklin Six-Drawer Cabinet

This coffee table is from a Breckinridge, CO company that makes contemporary pieces from Beetlekill pine. We love that they’re creating something wonderful out of the devastation the beetles caused to Colorado Lodgepole pines.

Coffee Table

This reclaimed wood and steel sideboard from Modern Arks would add a great touch to a loft dining area

If you’re drawn to any of these pieces, Home on the Range can help you order them for your space.

Images: 1 via Houzz; 2-4 via Four Hands; 5-6 via Classic Home; 7 via beetlekillblues.com

February 18, 2012
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Design Tips and Trends,Featured Products

Functional and Decorative Ottomans

Ottomans are extremely versatile pieces in home design. They not only give you a place to prop up your feet and add a decorative touch to a room, but they also can be used as coffee tables or storage pieces. Here, we’ve compiled a number of examples of ottomans as a gem in both function and form:

At Home on the Range, we’ve used ottomans as coffee tables in multiple Western interior design projects—they just work so well!

This is a fun little ottoman seat in a closet:

Another smart place for an ottoman is at the foot of a bed, like in this chic bedroom design.

This tufted ottoman is another great example of an ottoman as a coffee table.

How have you incorporated ottomans in your home? Leave a comment to share, or feel free to post pictures of your own versatile ottomans on our Facebook page. We’d love to see them!

Photos: 1-2 Interior design by Home on the Range; 3-5 via Houzz as linked above

February 15, 2012
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Events and Happenings

Home on the Range to Attend Design Bloggers Conference

Home on the Range designer Lynne Bier will be attending the upcoming second annual Design Bloggers Conference later this month—Feb. 26-28—in Los Angeles and is looking forward to having a wonderful time while learning valuable information.

An array of accomplished speakers are lined up to talk at the conference, including: renowned interior designers Martyn Lawrence-Bullard and Bunny Williams; the oh-so-popular Tobi Fairley; famous design bloggers Ronda Carman of All the Best and Cassandra LaValle of Coco + Kelley; founder of Dwell with Dignity, Lisa Robison; fabulous stylist Stacy Kunstel; design magazine editors Clint Smith and Kyle Hoepner; DesignSherpa President Adam Japko; and many more. You can find a full list of speakers and their bios online.

After attending the Design Bloggers Conference at the end of February, Lynne will share a follow-up post with details from the event. Be sure to check back to the blog, or follow it to have our updates sent right to you.

February 13, 2012
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Design Tips and Trends,Featured,Featured Products,It's All in the Details

Using Mirrors in Design

Mirrors can do a lot more than help you get ready in the morning! Whether we want to open up a space, reflect a gorgeous view or jazz up an accent wall, we often turn to mirrors for their decorating versatility. Today, we want to show you some great photos illustrating the use of mirrors in design and then you’ll see a few interesting mirrors available through Home on the Range Interiors. Take a look…

An oval mirror is the perfect complement to the mosaic tile in this powder bath.

Below, a mirror grouping adds an interesting accent to the wall.

The round mirror between two vertical architectural elements adds a nice focal point to this seating area.

Designer Tobi Fairley included a sunburst mirror in this colorful and inviting living room.

Below are four different mirror styles available through Home on the Range Interiors.

The reclaimed wood and sculptural shape of this mirror would add a nice statement to an entry and the scalloped edges of the next two mirrors paired with the metallic finishes would spice up any wall!

If you see something that catches your eye, contact Home on the Range to find out how to order them for your home!

Photos: 1-3 via Houzz; 4 via tobifairley.com; 5-8 Uttermost

February 11, 2012
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Design Tips and Trends,It's All in the Details

They’ve been around for centuries and they are still “what’s hot” today!

Animal prints may seem like a design trend but our view is that they are a timeless design element! When you look at at centuries old manor houses in England, chateaux in France and Bavarian hunting lodges, what will you find? Animal prints and rugs. Animal prints add an eclectic touch to everything from traditional interiors to cutting edge contemporary design. Here are some fun illustrations of various ways designers have incorporated animal prints into their rooms.

William Eubanks is known for creating timeless interiors, including this study featured on The Enchanted Home. Note the tiger stripes on the upholstery.

Renowned designer Bunny Williams also uses animal prints, including the leopard print pillows in this living space.