St Leonards House Peel Blog

Image Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty ImagesNicki Minaj is hip-hop’s new leading lady. It’s been said many times in the past year, most recently in the subheadline of a reverential Paper magazine profile. The reason this has become something of a cliché is because it’s as true as generalized statements get. Really, who else could plausibly lay claim to that title in September 2010? Go ahead. Name another female rapper as exciting and relevant as Nicki Minaj is right now.

I’m waiting. Did you think of one? The fact is, Nicki Minaj is today’s most important female rapper by default. There are plenty of other very talented women with hip-hop fanbases of various sizes — Trina, Lil Kim, Jean Grae, Rah Digga, and Remy Ma are a few names that come to mind. But none of them are currently on the level of stardom that Minaj has reached so rapidly through a series of attention-getting guest appearances and one hit single of her own. If we’re talking artistic merit or overall historical significance, sure, those are much tougher questions to settle. In terms of contemporary pop stature as a female rapper, though, Nicki Minaj simply doesn’t have much competition.

In fact, at this point it’s reductive to call Nicki Minaj hip-hop’s number one woman. She’s more than that. She’s one of the most fascinating personalities in rap, period. How many artists of any gender could upstage Kanye West and Jay-Z on their own song the way she did last weekend? Who else is parsing Shakespeare and giving shout-outs to gay fans like she does in that Paper profile? Some people find Minaj’s fondness for silly voices annoying, or think her lyrics lack depth, and those are fair opinions even if I don’t particularly share them. I am a fan, and I acknowledge that she has a long way to go before she’s the world’s best rapper. (On a related note, the Village Voice‘s Zach Baron recently made a dispiritingly reasonable case for why all Minaj’s talent and charisma still might not necessarily yield a great debut album.) But Minaj is certainly well past the point where any serious hip-hop fan can ignore her.

You tell me: Where do you think Nicki Minaj stands in 2010′s hip-hop pantheon? Is she the biggest female rapper? Something more? Something less? Let’s hear it.

(Follow The Music Mix on Twitter: @EWMusicMix.)

More news from EW.com’s Music Mix:
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Eminem and Jay-Z rock Detroit
B.o.B debuts dreamy “Magic” video
Carrie Underwood: Why do CMAs keep snubbing her for Entertainer of the Year?
Radiohead helps fans make Prague concert DVD

Kung Fu Vampire “iCount” Written & Produced by: Kung Fu Vampire Directed & Edited by: John Kim Assistant Director: Frank Felipe Live Band: Kung Fu Vampire on Vocals Lauren Palumbi aka Razz on Violin Joyce Kuo aka Status on Guitar Jeremy Pollett on Bass David West on Drums Evan”Count” Nunez on Keyboards Lucky Lucianni as “The Body Guard” Mixed & Engineered by Don Budd @ Tone Freq Mastered by Justin at Trakworx Studio Models: Karen “Caramel” Cox Theresa Shorter Shaina Doll Nicole Henton Knina Jackson Krisie “K10″ Hernandez Mikko Mi’Chelle Andrea Johnson Renee Burrell Hair & Make Up: Sadya “Vampira” Senior Jucinda “Jetta” Roberts Krisie “K10″ Hernandez Mi’chelle Grips & Assistants: Chris “ishi” Ishizaki Jacob Vega Canote Ryan “Dego” Fray Alpha Kenny 1 Billy Powers Mars Delgado Mike Forster © 2009 Mad Insanity Records kungfuvampire.com kfv@kungfuvampire.com

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From the smallest bungalow style home to the sprawling luxury house plan, every house has a room that gathers the household together each day. It’s the kitchen. The kitchen space serves a number of functions from family dinners to afternoon homework sessions. It is exposed to high traffic volume, and withstands daily wear and tear from many people. It is unsurprising then that the kitchen is often referred to as the heart of a home.

A space with such an important role requires special attention to layout and design. When it comes to planning the family kitchen, it is important to acknowledge the work triangle. The kitchen work triangle refers to the three major tasks completed in any kitchen. (1) Food Storage – The main spot for food storage is the refrigerator. Pantry, cabinets, and shelving systems may also be pertinent depending on the space at hand. (2) Cleaning/Prep – The kitchen sink and surrounding counter space is crucial for any functional kitchen and should not be overlooked. (3) Cooking – Ovens and cooktops are the third major component in the work triangle. While other appliances now have a role in many kitchens, the range is still tops. Although different in every kitchen layout, the work triangle is perfect for making a kitchen functional.

Corridor, or galley kitchens exist where the workspaces, such as in cottage home plans, can be separated into an equilateral triangle and two stations are located on one wall and the third station is centered on the parallel wall. Small or medium sized kitchens make great use of this layout, when the kitchen space is narrow or connecting two separate spaces. The average width of this kitchen ranges from 7 to 12 feet with optimal counter spaces of 4 to 5 feet.

It is best to place the kitchen sink at the tip of the triangle so it is surrounded by counter space on both sides while set alone on one wall. This allows room for a dishwasher while leaving under-counter cabinetry along the other wall. Though sometimes narrow, corridor kitchens eliminate great traveling distance from each workstation. Many cooks like to be able to reach the sink easily from both prep and cooking areas just by turning around.

Corridor kitchens typically offer good storage options even though space is tight in a small home plan and designed for only one cook’s presence. Appliances should be placed strategically so as to avoid traffic jams and interference when opening and closing doors. Keep this in mind when selecting new appliances. For example, side-by-side refrigerators are great in general but may not be functional in your kitchen layout.

Not as limited as the one-wall kitchen style, a corridor kitchens is simple yet highly functional. Any family cook can certainly make the most of the space available.

The layout of your home is probably one of the most significant choices you will ever make regarding your home. Regardless if you live in an apartment, a condominium or a house, the layout of the rooms and how they flow will largely depend on your lifestyle.  Whether you prefer single story or multiple stories, and all the bedrooms on the top floor – choosing a perfect plan can be stressful.  Here are 5 tips to help you decide on a plan right for your family.

1.) Choose a floor plan that suits your lifestyle: In a previous post we discussed the pros and cons of having an open floor plan.  There are factors you should consider regardless of openness. Factors such as: layout of rooms with consideration of family size and ages of children is essential. Most families who have young children like to have the private spaces of the house – bedrooms and bathrooms grouped in one area of the home.  While families with teenagers and young adults prefer to have bedrooms separated from each other.  If you’re house hunting, these factors will be important when choosing a home to move into. Assess your current floor plan and what the pros and cons are.  You may like it, or would prefer to try a different one.

2.) Do you entertain often or rarely? Many home floor plans are centered on entertaining and welcoming guests the minute they step through the front door. A wide foyer opening into an open floor plan living and dining room and meandering to the outdoors would be perfect for guests visiting. Although, if you and your family are more private and don’t like your full home on display every time the front door is opened, you may opt for a formal living room adjacent to the front door. This will allow guests a place to immediately sit and feel comfortable while leaving the rest of your house private.

3.)    Single story or multistory? Many families enjoy single story homes for the quietness of no overhead foot traffic noise.  Some single story homes, or ‘Ranch’ style homes tend to group public rooms in the center and bedrooms and baths are located on the “wings” of the floor plan.  Multistory homes give the added benefit of views to the outside instead of looking directly into a neighbor’s window. Multistory homes also give each family member their own space and room to have privacy over single story floor plans.

4.)    Do certain functions of your home need special accessibility? Whether you have a live-in family member that needs extra space to maneuver or children who need extra wide hallways to run around, consider this factor when choosing a floor plan.  Older homes tend to have narrower hallways, doorways and often door head heights. Remember renovating or altering non load bearing wall locations in the future is an option.  Consider this if you fall in love with a floor plan but your family needs change over the years.

5.)    How much outdoor living do you wish to have? Your floor plan will most likely include an outdoor leisure area. Whether that is a porch, lanai, swimming pool or other amenities.  When choosing a floor plan, assess how much your family will use these outdoor leisure amenities. Similar to a large yard, it looks beautiful when you keep up with it, but can look terrible if you don’t.  Ensure you want the added responsibility of keeping up with the outdoor plan AND the indoors at the same time.

Deciding on a floor plan can be fun and frustrating at the same time.  Assess your family’s lifestyle and your preferences to how you enjoy living.  With patience your dream home floor plan will be easier to find than you think!

Freshome reader’s how did you choose the floor plan of your current home? Do you like it, or would you change it? Share with us your thoughts.

NEW BUILDINGS NEW YORK: USONIAN HOUSE TOUR

WHO:  All interested parties are invited to join the Center for Architecture Foundation for an insider’s tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Homes, led by Roland Reisley, original Wright house owner and author of “Usonia, New York: Building a   Community With Frank Lloyd Wright.” Tickets are $150/person ($50 tax deductible) and include bus transportation to and from Usonia, boxed lunch, and a tour of four Usonian Houses: Reisley House, Cooper House, Serlin House and Resnick House. Advance RSVP is required: http://www.nycharities.org/events/eventlevels.aspx?ETID=2083.

WHAT: New Buildings New York, a program of the Center for Architecture Foundation, is a series of tours that provide a behind-the-scenes look at new building in the New York metropolitan area and are led by their architects, engineers and designers. All proceeds benefit youth and family programs at the Center for Architecture.

WHERE: 11:30 am – Bus departs Center for Architecture  
        12:30 – House Tour Begins
        3:30 – Bus Departs Usonia and returns to Center For Architecture

WHEN:  Saturday, October 2nd 2010, 11:30am

BACKGROUND:  Center for Architecture Foundation is an award-winning architecture and design education organization dedicated to promoting public awareness and a broader appreciation of the important role architecture and design play in our daily lives. We engage general public audiences in contemporary topics on the built environment to encourage design literacy. Programs include K-12 in-school collaborations, youth and family workshops, professional development, scholarships and public exhibitions and educational events at the Center for Architecture - a public gallery space committed to advancing the understanding of the built environment managed in partnership with the American Institute of Architects NY Chapter. http://www.cfafoundation.org.

from Crosby Doe Associates

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Designer: Frank Lloyd Wright
Location: Pasadena, California
The Millard House (La Miniatura), 1923

” Recognized by Wright as the earliest ‘Usonian’ house, La Miniatura is also the first residence to utilize Wright’s highly inventive textile block building system. The Millard House is internationally recognized as one of the world’s most important works of architecture. Now, following a multi-year restoration, the complex offers one of the most romantic, and creative living spaces anywhere. Sited on nearly an acre of gardens within the Prospect Historic District of Pasadena, the residence and studio include: 4 bedrooms, and 4 baths, 2 kitchens, living room, formal dining room, and semi-attached garages. The Millard House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”
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Source: Crosby Doe Associates
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