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Built it Green NYC: the Secret Source for Cheap Reclaimed Lumber

If reclaimed and salvaged material is your thing, then Built It Green NYC (or BIG!NYC) is your place to get exactly that. BIG!NYC is New York City's only non-profit retail outlet for salvaged and surplus building materials. Their materials comes from demolished buildings or surplus donation from large builders to small remodelers like you and me.

I recently scored some Alaskan Yellow Cedar from old New York water towers, which are replaced every 30 years. It's hard to imagine a better story than a piece of furniture crafted straight from an iconic piece of New York City history. The prices were very reasonable at around $3.00 per linear ft, and it feels good to be contributing to a good cause. Alaskan Yellow Cedar is highly durable and resistant to weather and rot- hence its use in water towers and traditional boats. I'm planning on turning them into Japanese-style bath stools. All proceeds from the sale support BIG!NYC and CEC's environmental initiatives around the city, including BIG!Compost, BIG!Blooms scaffolding program for raised garden beds at community gardens, BIG!NYC Gives Back donation program for non-profits and community groups, and so much more.

#woodworking #lumber #built it green nyc #water towers #makersalley

IKEA and the Culture of Cheap

IKEA has been synonymous with affordable Scandinavian furniture since its founding in 1943. As of 2011, IKEA has stores in almost 40 countries and sells close to 12,000 products. Unfortunately, IKEA has been instrumental in developing a culture of cheap products which need to be replaced every few years. Before IKEA, furniture would be bought for life and would be passed down from generation to generation. In fact, Ray and Charles Eames had a mission of making low cost, high quality furniture available for the mass market by leveraging the benefits of industrial and mass production. The famous Eames Lounge Chair launched in 1956 at a price of $578 which is equivalent to $4,940 in 2013. I can’t imagine many middle class families spending almost $5,000 on a chair right now but it was common in the 1950’s. These chairs would last a lifetime and people enjoyed having a high quality, well designed chair in their lives.

Given this culture, it’s no surprise that IKEA furniture doesn’t last very long and has led to IKEA becoming the world’s third largest lumber consumer after Home Depot and Lowes. There are also more IKEA catalogs printed each year than the bible. Even worse, IKEA has a corporate structure designed to minimize taxes paid and maximize revenue for its owners that include parts of IKEA being treated as non-profits.

At Makers Alley, we believe we need to get back to a culture of quality that is environmentally sustainable. We believe that we need to support the smaller designers and makers out there and we should be happy to pay more for quality and uniqueness. It’s not sustainable in the long term to behave the way we have been and we need to change it, one purchase at a time.

#IKEA #furniture #furniture design #makersalley

Where to woodwork in New York? (hint: it's Brooklyn.)

(photo courtesy from 3rd Ward) We get asked a lot about woodworking spaces in New York. We've visited enough spaces and makers to know that, though not impossible, very few woodworkers work out of Manhattan. No surprises there. We will also tell you that Brooklyn is now home to many coworking-style spaces. Woodworking is not a cheap hobby, but it's probably easier than ever to get into it- just go to Brooklyn. As we see it, woodworking options fall into 3 categories: 1. Membership-based workshops 2. Dedicated space/work bench rental 3. Your own shop Let's focus on membership-based workshop first. Membership-based workshops These membership-based workshops are open to the public and great for beginners. For a monthly fee ranging from $150 to $499, you have access to a workspace and high quality equipment. These spaces usually offer classes so you can learn the basic skills of woodworking. Pros: * Low start-up coast: all the machines you need are purchased, maintained, and ready for you to use. All you need to do is hand over your credit card. * Beginner friendly: these spaces often offer classes so you can get started even if you have zero experience. * Instant community: sharing equipment and space with other members means you naturally will meet other people who share the same interest. It's cool to see what other people are making and learn a thing or two. * Variety of equipment: you get access to more types of equipment than you ever need- great way to expand your horizons. Cons: * Get in line: the machines are shared with other members, so you could potentially find yourself waiting around for the table saw or belt sander to get freed up. * Can't leave your stuff: because the entire space is shared, you have to put away/lock up/take back your tools and materials every time. * Monthly fees: while the startup costs are low, if you're an infrequent user, monthly fees can still rack up. Reminds me of my gym membership... Here's a list of workspaces we know of: * 3rd Ward (195 Morgan Ave., East Williamsburg) - $499/mo * Makeville (119 8th St., Gowanus) - $250-$500/mo (private bench available) * SPark Workshop (33 34th St., Sunset Park - get it? "SPark") - $150-$1400/mo (private workspace available) * Gowanus Studio Space (166 7th St. Gowanus) - $125-$700/mo (private workspace available) We personally have membership at 3rd Ward, but it's getting a tad expensive for the hobbyist. SPark Workshop is relative new (launched in December 2012), and seems much more cost effective. Let us know if there are other membership-based workshops out there! We'll add it to the list.

#woodworking #woodshop #brooklyn #furniture making #makersalley

ICFF 2013

Today brings the end of the 25th annual International Contemporary Furniture Fair which showcased the work of more than 500 contemporary designers from more than 30 countries. There are so many great pieces that we're having a hard time picking out the few we want to showcase. We decided a better approach would be to highlight coverage that we liked. Let us know what you enjoyed in the comments.

Design Sponge shows us 10 awesome looking tables

Architizer shows a sample of some neat wallpapers

Delightfull compiles a list of the most eccentic lamps

Delightfull provides a list of their top lighting exhibitors

2modern gives us a general overview of the show

Modenus highlights the ceramics made by British designers

MyDesignAgenda showcases some of the must see items

Boca Do Lobo gives us their pick of the best exhibitors

bestInteriorDesigners spotlights their pick of the best brands

#ICFF #design #interior design

Le Petit Monster: You can make it any where

You wouldn't think the shoebox apartments of Manhattan to be a hotbed for furniture makers. But, small space hasn't stopped makers Austin Lacey and Moh Mehrabani from creating and building furniture by upcycling wine crates from local wine shops.

(The Original Monster side table)

The pair started Le Petit Monster a year ago, building coffee and side tables on the rooftop of Austin's West Village walk up. Yes it's nice to be on the roof when it's a nice spring day, but, let's face it, 8 months out of the year it's either sweltering hot or freezing cold in New York. These two are professionals dedicated to their craft. Maybe it has something to do with their being from Canada

(The roof where the magic happens.)

When we interviewed them for our Maker Story Video a couple weeks ago, I was incredibly inspired and impressed with their resourcefulness. Austin's apartment is probably around 450 square feet, packed with raw material and goodies that they've collected.

Albeit small, the place has some truly great design touches. Proves that you don't need a lot of space to make every one jealous of your pad.

The two are thinking of creative ways to use wine crates for building furniture. Here's a sneak peak of some wall hooks.

You can learn more about them here through their Maker Story video:

Makers Alley Presents: Le Petit Monster from Makers Alley.

#makersalley #interior design #le petit monster #wine crates #woodworking #furniture #maker story

Introducing Le Petit Monster

Some exciting news! A few weeks ago we had the pleasure of shooting a video of Le Petit Monster, a small woodworking-design shop started by Moh Mehrabani and Austin Lacey that’s based in New York’s West Village. We just put the finishing touches on the video that tells story of Le Petit Monster and wanted to share it with the Makers Alley community. It’s not the same as meeting them face to face but it provides a glimpse of what inspires Austin and Moh, how much fun they’re having, and their furniture-making process.

We’re huge fans of upcycling and love that Le Petit Monster takes it as seriously as we do. They take old, discarded wine creates and turn them into beautiful pieces that can adorn any home. After watching the video, check out their storefront and meet the little monsters.

#design #furniture #woodworking #makersalley

The Tangerine Tango Trend

According to Pantone, Orange is the color of year in 2012. Actually, the specific name given to that color is "Tangerine Tango". Although Emerald is the color of the year in 2013, it seems like Tangerine is not ready to leave the stage. It was out in full force at Design on a Dime along with Ikat.

Vignette by Patrick James Hamilton

Vignette by Foley & Cox I love the antique shuttlecock poster from Room 125.

Vignette by Cullman & Kravis Credit: These photos are from The Quintessence Blog because, unfortunately, all the photos I took on my iPhone were blurry.

#design on a dime #design interior design makersalley

The NYC Water Towers

If you’re like me, you must have seen the variety of reclaimed furniture being made in NYC. I did some digging around and it turns out that a lot of it is coming from local NYC water towers that are being replaced. Due to government regulations, every building in New York that’s at least 6 stories high needs a water tower in order to help deal with water pressure issues that would arise from having to pump the water from the ground up every time someone used the sink. And since the water towers will hold drinking water, no chemicals can be used to help with the sealing (interestingly, the way they end up being watertight is that the wood absorbs the water, swells, and creates a tight seal).

Given how dense New York is, there are approximately 10,000 water towers with each one being able to last ~30 years before needing to be replaced. Luckily for us, this means that in an average year, more than 300 water towers will be dismantled and replaced with much of the wood making it’s way to local woodworkers who’ll be able to use it to make chairs, tables, and benches.

#furniture #interior design #reclaimed #nyc

Ikat Every where at Design on a Dime

One of my favorite trends in interior design has been Ikat fabric in upholstery, wallpaper, and more. It gives off such a worldly, tribal feel. I particularly love when it's done in modern bold color combinations... just to prove what I mean, check out this chair I re-upholstered a few months ago in bright yellow and sky blue:

Of course when Dan and I went to the Design On a Dime show presented by Housing Works last week, my eyes picked up everything ikat- and there were plenty of it there. Check out these photos:

This lovely chair was a reupholstered used piece. One of a set of 4 that I almost took home.

A little ikat goes a long way. The throw pillows in hot pink and oversized ikat print makes it feel current. And what about that white driftwood chandelier up there? A work of art! (and lots of beaching combing, I'll bet)

Another chair upholstered in ikat. Well, the seat cushion fabric was embroidered so it's not technically ikat, which is a dyeing technique. But the pattern is reminiscent of ikat.

Ikat doesn't always have to mean bright colors. This room design is about neutral tones. The ikat-like patterns on the sectional and throw pillows add a ton of texture to the room. Feels so comfy and inviting.

#design on a dime #housing work #design

Housing Works' Design on a Dime 2013

On Friday, Sandy and I went to the Design on a Dime benefit hosted by Housing Works. The goal is of the event was to raise money for the Hull Street Residence, Housing Works' most recent supportive housing development. There were 50 rooms that were each staged by a well known designer with each piece being available for purchase.

It was a great way for us to see the variety of popular styles and how different each designer's look is. Below are some designs that stood out for me and give a sense of the variety present at the show. I look forward to attending next year!

#design #furniture #interiordesign #furniture design

Picking a Finish for Wood Furniture: Learnings Forward

I never thought much about wood finishes on furniture pieces until I started woodworking as a hobby. Finishing has became a bit of an obsession for me, which means a lot of late night hangouts on forum sites like http://www.sawmillcreek.org/ and http://www.lumberjocks.com to get advice.

I’ve since learned finishing is a point of fear and obsession for many others. Well, no surprise- after spending tens of hours building a piece of furniture, sanding it down, the last thing you want is to ruin it with the wrong finish! Now I am convinced finishing wood is the ultimate combination of art+science. When thinking about the type of finish to pick, here are things to consider 1. The wood species: some wood doesn’t take stains very well. For example, I tested a piece of oak with Danish oil in walnut color. Oak doesn’t take stain evenly and gives off a tiger-stripe like quality that really didn’t appeal to me. In the end, I finished it with Danish oil in natural. 2. Your aesthetic: some people like highly polished & glossy finishes; others like to keep the wood as natural as possible. I will say, I have noticed the fine woodworkers tend to want to keep the wood as natural as possible, while many interior decorators like to paint over the wood, hiding the wood grain completely. 3. The function of the piece: if it’s a dining table that gets used a lot, or you have kids around, then you might want to pick a more durable finish. If it’s an infrequently used side table, then it could be done with a less protective finish. And that’s not all. If you are finishing (or refinishing) a piece yourself, there’s an additional consideration: 4. Ease of application: It’s well known that hand-rubbed Danish Oil/Tung Oil is a foolproof finishing technique for beginners. On the other hand, you need the right technique to apply wood stains evenly. But of course, if you are having a professional create a custom piece for you, then you don’t really want to worry about 4). In the next few weeks, I’m going to go into more details on my various trials and tribulations in finishing wood pieces. I hope these learnings will help others in picking the right finishing technique, or at least not make the same mistakes I did!

#wood #wood finishing #furniture design

Apartment Therapy Design Evening with Nate Berkus

Last night, I attend my Apartment Therapy Design Evening meetup where I got to listen to an interview between Nate Berkus and Maxwell Ryan of Apartment Therapy. I wasn’t too familiar with Nate before the panel so it provided a great background about his career so far and his design philosophy.

Here are a few thoughts I was able to jot down from the discussion:

When Nate was starting out designing Oprah’s set, he had trouble convincing furniture retailers to provide their furniture for free. They didn’t think there was marketing value in having their pieces shown on Oprah. What a difference a decade makes!

Design TV has gotten people thinking that design should be quick, fast, and affordable where in fact, good design is the exact opposite. Quality has a price tag and it’s unfortunate that in order to appeal to the mass market you need to go in the opposite direction. This has been changing as people care more and more about the provenance of the pieces but it’s taking time. In many ways, it’s echoing the food industry where people are more interested in organic and local products.

While terrible, losing his partner in the Indian Ocean tsunami shifted Nate’s perspective and helped him further develop his design philosophy. He’s now able to think slowly, openly, and clearly.

Nate changes the look of his home frequently and doesn’t stick to a single style. Many of the pieces come from his travels and serve as a great way to remember a trip. He will only buy pieces that he loves but he’s finding it easier to find pieces that fit as he gets more experienced.

It was an enlightening talk and I’m looking forward to the new show he’s launching on NBC, Renovation Nation, that will have teams of interior designers and decorators competing to create the best looks. In addition to the upcoming show, Nate recently published a book, The Things That Matter, that provides even more history about the evolution of his style. Take a look if you’re interested!

#apartment therapy #design #interiordesign #Nate Berkus

Architectural Digest Home Design Show

A couple of weeks ago, the Architectural Digest hosted a home design show in NYC that I had the luck of checking out. The show was arranged such that there was a separate section dedicated to the smaller designers and I ended up spending most of my time there. It's awesome that these designers have a chance to showcase their pieces without having to go to the gallery route and I just wish there were more of these, especially geared towards the designers who are just starting out. At some point, we'd love to sponsor a design show for local NYC designers who don't have the budget to get into the bigger design shows.

I didn't snap too many photos during the show but here are some pieces that I enjoyed:

Coffee Table by Black Creek Designs

Palo Samko's Booth

Dining Table by John Eric Byers

Egg Collective Booth

#furniture #design #interiordesign

Age of Choices: Makers Alley

Beyond the age of information is the age of choices. - Charles Eames

We started Makers Alley from an unhealthy obsession with the aesthetics of our home. We wanted it to feel less generic, and more... like us. But it seems our choices are limited to the big brands. Smaller brands exist, but are so fragmented that they're hard to find. We asked: why is it easier to buy a mass-marketed piece of furniture?

One main reason: marketing. It's no surprise that big brands like Crate & Barrel and Restoration Hardware spend a lot of money marketing to consumers. These activities make sure that, when it comes time to furnish our homes, their brands are top of mind. But this also has two consequences:

1) Up to 70% of the price you pay is paying for marketing: retail stores, sales people, mail catalogs (especially at this time of the year), and online/offline advertising.

2) Their catalogs are curated to appeal to as wide of an audience as possible. As they increase their mass-market appeal, the uniqueness of their products suffer. Have you seen this table before?

The Rise of the Makers

On the other hand, we've found in the last few months trekking through Brooklyn that there are many talented makers right in our backyards who design & build really special pieces- often more durable, functional, and interesting- and not necessarily more expensive than a piece from the likes of Restoration Hardware. These makers often work alone or with a few partners and aren't easy to find unless you look hard. They often find clients through word of mouth.

In this age of information, we think it's time these makers are more accessible to every one- not just interior designers or those of us who bump into them at a flea market.

Makers Alley is a project with the mission to help people like you and me discover and learn about makers and their work. You'll find the story of our project here as we learn and grow.

The storytelling story

At Makers Alley, we're trying to discover the best local makers and help connect with them. An approach we're taking is interviewing local makers and getting their story to share with the community.

We thought it would be great to also document our story getting these maker stories ready so we hope you enjoy!