A Row of Lamps

I saw these lamps in a shopping complex in my city. I guess it looks good in black and white. Have a great week end, everyone!

The Weekend in Black and White

Energy and Money Saving Improvements

There’s a simple relationship between energy and money: if you save energy, you save money. Take heating, for example. In winter, electricity, gas and timber are consumed in large quantities as we try to warm our homes and beat the winter shivers. In summer, we tend to utilize a similar amount of energy by trying to keep cool.

Depending on the extremes of the climate to which we are subjected, the energy costs can be very high. Ideally, a home should absorb and store the sun’s energy during winter and reflect and shed its surplus in summer.

If we could somehow design a home to catch the sun in winter and deflect it in summer, we’d have the best of both worlds. Is it possible?

Absorption of the sun’s heat is handled efficiently by careful deployment of glassed window areas. In winter, if we have north-facing windows that catch the full benefit of the available sun, then warming comfort is assured.

So, if you’re designing a new home, or redesigning an existing one, locate the living areas on the northern side and make sure there are plenty of windows. The roof of a north-facing room can be constructed of architectural glass, thereby creating a winter solarium. If it’s too impossible or too expensive to change walls or roofs, skylights can be let in or small windows enlarged.

In summer, if the eaves are the correct width, the sun is prevented for much of the day from shining directly on the glass. When it does, it can be ‘fielded’ with adjustable awnings, shutters or drapes. With west-facing windows-often a nuisance in the hot months- deep pergolas and low screens or dense foliage can be used to create shade.

Cut Fruit Seller Cart

Mellow Yellow time is coming again! It’s a common view here. Many sellers use little carts to display their things. Is there a seller like this in your city?

A Little Light

It’s my late entry. This little candle light warmed our table. I captured it when we held a dinner at a café. It’s not a romantic dinner, as we had dinner while watching a football match in FIFA World Cup last month. Too many people screaming!

See other black and white photos at The Weekend in Black and White!

A Board for Bills

The traditional pin board has its place, but, invariably, you find you’ve run out of pins or you’re treading unsuspectingly on one that’s ‘escaped’ from its moorings. An innovative design that employs elastic strips and bulldog clips in place of pins stylishly eliminates these shortcomings.

Letters, bills and other ephemera are held in place by means of diagonal elasticized strips surmounted by a leather border. Both are held in place by stout drawing pins. Before securing, mark the border shape and strip positions on the felt with a tailor’s pencil. Glue may also be used under the elastic for added strength.

Hang the bulldog clips on nails or screw them to the board. The board itself is fixed to the wall using screws and cup washers. Brass ones would harmonize particularly well with the leather. Alternatively, the board could be glued to the wall with epoxy glue.

Yellow Front Yard

Mellow Yellow is coming again!

This front yard of an office is so yellow, as it’s lots of blooming Yellow Peanut Plant flowers there. What a fresh view!