weeWares

Every once is a while, wee (okay, mainly Betsy) gets particularly happy that it's named for its size. Being able to 'play' wee word games is certainly one of those reasons. For instance:

Here's a wee friend wearing the weeCap from weeWares!

So adorable.
Okay, okay, I'll stop now.

P.S. Thanks to T+D+A!

wee be Busy!

It's been crazy-busy here at Alchemy from the marketing point of view! Last weekend we participated in the first (but certainly to-be-annual) MN AIA Homes by Architects Tour, featuring the Loft Renovation done by Geoffrey Warner and Scott Ervin. It was amazing to hear all the great comments from the 425 (or so) attendees. The clients were epic and oh-so-generous with their hosting, and overall, we were happy to feature not only our work, but that of our friends, too. Scott McGlasson's (Woodsport) work is throughout the loft and got lots of oo's and ah's. NICE.










We had two weeHouses going on over the past few weeks (both built by Simplex Homes in Scranton, PA) and I'm anxiously awaiting some updated photos to post! The Esopus NY weeHouse (custom) features beautiful details from Kohler. Looking forward to a photo opp with those! The Cobleskill NY weeHouse is just 'set' and per the project manager, Scott Ervin, is being painted and plumbed-up and electrified as I type. This weeHouse is the 2X side by side pair and also features elegant, contemporary fixtures from Kohler along with an amazingly lovely "green" bamboo floor from Teragren. Both Kohler and Teragren are reliable vendors with quality, design-conscious products that are perfect complements to the weeHouse. We so appreciate working with them. Here are some photos for starters ... waiting for more.













The amazing building front of the SPECS Optical store in Minneapolis has now been completed! Some super-coolio planters were designed, cut from aluminum, and added just last week. We're hoping to have a BRIGHT IDEA party in late October to celebrate it all.



From October 16-30, the Saturn weeHouse STUDIO will be available to tour at A Clean Break, part of Design Philadelphia, 2008. Since wee will be out East, I'm hoping to have open houses at both the Cobleskill and Esopus weeHouses on October 11, 12. Confirmation to be posted and also weeMailed (so be sure to be on our list)!



As far as dogs go ... this week we've had my niece's white boxer here keeping Hazelnut company. How lucky are wee?!

A Lofty Idea—on Tour (and in the NY Times)

We're pleased and thankful to announce that Alchemy's Loft Project is featured in the New York Times Home Section. Alchemy also thanks the fine team who worked with us to create this project including our gracious clients, the experienced and tenacious General Contractor, Kurt Albrecht of KA Construction, Scott Ervin of Alchemy, Scott McGlasson of Woodsport Woodcraft + Design, David Washburn of Valcucine Minneapolis, and Jim Marvy of Simply Marvy Lighting.
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Alchemy on Tour!

Alchemy's Loft Project, designed by Geoffrey Warner and Scott Ervin, will be featured in the AIA Minnesota's Homes by Architects Tour in Minneapolis on September 20-21, 2008. Please join us.

Award-winning graphic designers and authors of the bestselling book "What’s Out There," Will Hopkins and Mary K. Baumann (of Hopkins Baumann Design) are a New York City couple who have recently transplanted their home and office to the renovated Whitney Lofts Building in Minneapolis (formerly the Standard Mill). Their Loft is situated in the Mill’s former turbine room and contains an office (for six) that melds seamlessly with their home.

Conceived as the designers' white on white, the space plays freely with concepts of old and new as a place—a home—for art. Tucked within is a house made from stacked timbers, lights on pulleys and rough sisal rope and tables that roll on a 60-foot-long track embedded in the floor. Experience the melding of luxury+function in the state-of-the-art Valcucine kitchen that coexists with industrial and IKEA components. See how a custom-built, 250-pound pivoting bedroom door that rotates with the push of a finger co-exists within the 2,600-square-foot living space that is replete with 19th-century steel crossbeams, heavy timbers, and stone-and-brick arches. Day dream some time away under the unifying factor of having it all pulled together by white cloud forms oozing through the gaps.

Warner’s inspiration in designing and engineering this renovation came from original black-and-white photographs archived by the Library of Congress, existing architectural elements, including brick arches dating from 1879, and some out-of-this-world phenomena from Hopkins/Baumann’s bestselling book, "What’s Out There". Project partners include David Washburn of Valcucine, Scott McGlasson of Woodsport, lighting designer Jim Marvy of Simply Marvy, the clients themselves, and contractor Kurt Albrecht, all of whom played a vital role in refurbishing existing 4-foot-thick stone-and-brick walls, customizing cabinets to accommodate overhanging duct work and industrial pipes, dynamically lighting an eclectic art collection, and creating artful yet functional furniture, all of which complements Warner’s trademark industrial style of celebrating the poetry in the transformation of everyday objects into artful elements.

Valcucine and Alchemy look forward to hosting you during this event.

For additional information on the Loft, please see our Web site's Gallery. For additional ticket information, please see: http://www.homesbyarchitects.org/