Rockstar Homes

Boston loves to rock, there's no denying it. We often imagine rock stars living it up in the seediest of dens, because that's kind of what the lifestyle is all about. However, in the case of Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick, his home is probably the furthest from the Chelsea Hotel that you can get. (My apologies for the poor video quality.)




A few things I took away from this:

• In contrast to a recent post where we mentioned ways that architects, designers, and homeowners can utilize small space, here we have an example of what to do with a sprawling space. I especially liked that the couple have very few interior walls. The kichen/dining room/living room concept is also a very astute and practical choice.
• This is a tall couple--so their countertops are 2 inches higher than normal. Always keep in mind who will be using the space the most. (Though I wonder what this choice does to the resale value?)
• Lower ceilings for the Nielsens translated to a 10% cost reduction!
• At one point during the feature, Nielsen's wife, Karen, comments on some of her choices by saying that a designer would probably cringe. But I say, who cares? I love design as much as anyone, but at the end of the day you're the one who will have to live with the choice you've made, so it's best to pick out the decor that suits your personal taste. 

Any thoughts? Share them with us! Leave a comment!

The Sleeping Porch

Admit it, Boston. Winter has barely begun and you’re already planning your summer. How else to distract yourself from the bitter cold that’s only getting worse? And we’re in the midst of the holiday season (thankfully we can see a light at the end of that tunnel), so my guess is your every other thought is immersed in fantasies of deep, restorative sleep. Am I right?

That’s exactly where my mind wandered while leafing through a back issue of Design New England. (It was the July/August 2011 issue, in fact—ah, remember July? Shorts and T-shirts? Were we ever that young?) The magazine featured an engrossing article on the history of the sleeping porch, a throwback to the turn of the 20^th century when such constructions were promoted for the beneficial effects of sleeping in the open air, a popular notion at the time. The sleeping porch died away as more and more houses adopted modern-day air conditioning, but this nostalgic home feature is making a comeback today. As the article concludes:

Architect Christopher Dallmus of Design Associates in Cambridge and Nantucket, Massachusetts, designed a new sleeping porch for a client who was renovating her Federal-style Nantucket house. "We put it on top of an enclosed porch and adjacent to the master bedroom, and it fit in beautifully," he says. "The owner asked that it be air-conditioned, but I hear her grandchildren like to sleep there with the windows open." 

Interested in adding a sleeping porch to your house? I found this helpful, succinct guide on how to get started. As the guide indicates, fixing up a sleeping porch can be a simple DIY project or a full-scale renovation. As with all construction projects, the more thought you put into it, the more satisfying the result will turn out to be. I particularly agree with the advice to consider who will be using the space the most--is this simply a room for one or two people, or is it more of a family space? The choice of materials here is as important as with any other project--take into consideration sun exposure as well as moisture and all the rest of the slings and arrows of the elements.

And most importantly--tell us what you think! Have you added a sleeping porch to your home? Share your stories/pictures in a comment.