CasaSugar

Michelle Kaufmann Designs Closing Doors

CasaSugar — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:15:02 -0700

I am very sad to report that Michelle Kaufmann Designs is closing, due in part to the credit crisis and the closing of factories used to manufacture MKD homes. The green prefab firm, located in Oakland, CA, designed homes guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council. Homes such as the Glidehouse and mkLotus won MKD international acclaim, and were proof that prefab and green were a natural fit.

According to the LA Times:

Kaufmann has been working with her clients -- some with houses in construction, others earlier in the design process -- to put them in a position to build their projects with other firms, if they choose. She said she has been in preliminary talks with large home-building companies that may be interested in producing her designs or working with her as a consultant.

While I've been saddened by a number of stories in the real estate and architecture world lately, this one definitely hits me the hardest. Michelle Kaufmann is truly an inspiration, and I wish her the best of luck in her next, undoubtedly impressive project in the world of architecture and sustainable living.

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DIY: Recycled Bathmat

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:42 -0700

Need a project for Earth Day? Here's a great one from Michelle Kaufmann. As she mentions in the video, this recycled towel bathmat project is a perfect activity to do while watching a movie. Instead of using old towels, Michelle also suggests substituting old t-shirts for the main material of the bathmat. Now, if only I can convince the person I live with to give up all those old concert t-shirts for this project . . .

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Have You Entered Michelle Kaufmann's Eco Gingerbread Contest?

CasaSugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 16:00:15 -0800

One of my eco heroes, Michelle Kaufmann is sponsoring a Green Guru Gingerbread Challenge. You have two more days to enter the contest, and I know that CasaSugar readers are a creative bunch, so I thought you should rally to make your own design!

Check out this house, for example, which is powered by chocolate solar panels and features clerestory windows, a deep roof overhang, low-E glazed windows, a frosting water catchment system, and green roofs planted with native flora. Sustainable and delicious!

Are you going to enter the Green Guru Gingerbread Challenge?

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Casa Verde: Michelle Kaufmann's Quick Construction

CasaSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:00:34 -0700

Whether she's making cool eco craft projects or designing innovative homes, Michelle Kaufmann is definitely one of my eco heroes.

Michelle designs green, prefab homes that are both beautiful and cost-effective. These homes are guaranteed to achieve either gold or platinum LEED ratings, the two highest ratings from the US Green Building Council. And since the homes are prefab designs, they can also be quickly erected.

Want to know how quickly they can be built? Then read more.

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DIY: Make Your Own Eco Outdoor Fire

CasaSugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:00:51 -0700

As the nights get chillier, many of us crave the warmth of an outdoor fire, but might be concerned about the pollutants that a roaring wood fire produces. Leave it to green designer Michelle Kaufmann to create a solution to this problem. She's come up with a great, inexpensive, and very modern-looking way to create an outdoor fire on your patio, deck, or in your yard.

Here's What You'll Need

A few cans of Eco Fuel
A big metal or ceramic planter box
River rocks

To find out how to do it, read more.

Check out the video to learn how to make your eco outdoor fire.

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:00:32 -0700

Hutton Wilkinson debuts a book about his mentor Tony Duquette. - Vanity Fair
I'm aching over this lust-worthy velvet fabric. - AT:NY
Line your staircase with a vertical garden. - AT:SF
Danny Seo talks about greening your windows. - Daily Danny
Michelle Kaufmann sells prefab housing designs to Blu Homes. - UnBeige

Photos courtesy of Abrams

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:00:28 -0700

Ever thought about keeping bees? How about on a rooftop in Brooklyn? - Re-Nest
Peruse pictures of pretty Scandinavian styling.- Desire to Inspire
Repurpose a frame for jewelry displays.- AT:SF
Try these tips for hanging artwork.- PointClickHome
Read a charming interview with Michelle Kaufmann.- Design*Sponge

Casa Verde: The Greenest Home in Chicago Opens Thursday

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:00:49 -0700

If you live in the Chicago area, I have plans for you this week. The greenest home in Chicago, the redesigned "2009 Smart Home: Green + Wired," a 2,500-square-foot modular home at the Museum of Science and Industry, opens to the public on Thursday. The house features an eco-friendly baby nursery, a DIY "green" garage workshop, countertops made from recycled glass, a recyclable steel dining table, and "art developed with the power of the sun" - interesting! The building was designed by Michelle Kaufmann to exhibit big and small ways people can reuse resources, choose eco-friendly décor, consume energy smartly, and landscape efficiently. Wired magazine has also outfitted it with new and unique home technologies, including a home automation system with voice updates and room occupancy sensors. Go here for more information, and be sure to let us all know if you're able to make your way there. I'll have to live vicariously through you Chicagoans.
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DIY: Eco Chopstick Birdhouse

CasaSugar — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:15:12 -0700

I came across this YouTube video by eco-architect Michelle Kaufmann about how to make a birdhouse by reusing chopsticks from all those Friday night orders of vegetable lo mein. I'm actually quite impressed with the design; contrary to what you might expect, it doesn't look a thing like a kindergarten craft project. I summarized the steps for you below, but some of you may find the video helpful as well.

Supplies

Chopsticks
Non-toxic exterior glue
String or wire

To learn the steps, read more.

Here are the steps:

Put some glue in a small container or dish.
Take three chopsticks. Lay them down in a triangle, having the outer corners all connect.
Dip another chopstick in the glue, and use it to dab the glue on the corners of the triangle to adhere the sticks to one another.
Keep layering chopsticks on top, and on the two sides you're actually going to taper in just the thickness of the wood. That way, the end will be the size of the opening for the birds.
Continue layering and tapering in, but on the bottom side of the triangle, don't taper. Just stack the chopsticks on top of one another, because that will end up being the floor for the birdhouse.
Continue until the tapered opening is about one inch and a half by one inch and a half.
What you've made so far will be one half of the birdhouse. Repeat the above to make the other half.
Match up the two units. Connect them by weaving string or wire up at the top, which you can also use to hang your birdhouse from a tree.
If you like, you can also put a pinecone inside the birdhouse laced with peanut butter and birdseeds, so it can be used as a bird feeder. Fini!

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Link Time!

CasaSugar — Fri, 02 May 2008 09:45:58 -0700

Re-Nest tours Michelle Kaufmann's Glidehouse.
Day-Lab DIY is reno'ing a sweet Danish modern sofa.
AT:SF rounds up tips for small-space living.
HGTV Green Home clues you in on the house's sustainable location.
Shelterrific takes you on another adventure in beekeeping.
YumSugar has found some May must-haves.
Design Happens presents you with a Mother's Day gift guide.

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