Who says a house has to be a neutral color? Check out these examples of colorful homes, some funky and some that would agree with just about anyone’s taste.
Posts categoriezed as Design
Co-created Design, Not ‘Automated’
Look, in the early days of the modern, multimedia WWW (we’re talking about just a decade into the past) Web designers had to do everything. Creating sites from scratch meant that a business, even a small business or an individual, had to hire a person to do that job.
There’s no human tragedy in the fact that eventually those design services could be handled by software instead. That’s just the way high-technology is moving. Obedient software solutions sometimes can be even easier to deal with than those artsy designer types!
Web designers have newer functions, which include creating templates or managing existing websites or dreaming up new forms of ‘creative’ , that is, their artistic ideas for clients. We see this shift as an advantage for everybody.
The Game of Design
When you use a software system to create your design, you actually are leveraging the good sense and artistic wisdom of the designers who put together and contributed to that software’s features. You’re not alone, even without a personal designer, you see.
In fact, an online program like Webbyt works so smoothly, and gives so many easy-to-use options, you’re getting the silent input of a small army of designers! And then you have the customer support staff (real humans), who are there to watch your back and answer your unsurprising questions as new users.
You, in fact, gain the experience of a little design activity for yourself, on your own behalf, with results that are somewhat fool-proof (if you don’t mind us saying that!). Such an experience can only help your business, because you get much more intimate with your own creative. Truth be told, when you use our system it feels like you are playing a design-oriented video game!
Design Game with Serious Results
Don’t knock online games! They’re very powerful and advanced, as any youngster will tell you eagerly. The same principles of computing and screen-interaction go into producing award-winning Web-design systems.
In fact, playing a game (whether online or offline) is one of the best new ways to learn something. The entire WWW can be seen as a huge interactive gaming experience, with vital tools like Google search and wikis serving the role of referee or moderator.
But don’t be mislead: the results that you get from Webbyt can be better than some designers (perhaps less experienced ones). This is serious business. Your design results are vital to staying in touch with the times and communicating your ideas to the public effectively.
Case Studies Abound
We’re not just inventing these arguments, you know. You can look to almost any industry or type of business for examples of websites that look hand-made, yet were made with the help of co-creative online agents (software) instead of the labour-intensive workflows of humans.
One super example of something so complex that one or more humans could not possible manage it alone (and because of the human factor, they shouldn’t!) is online gaming that involves real cash.
Casino entertainment powered and delivered by the Web is something that Brits already know and love. You can learn a lot from classycasinos.co.uk about just how successful online marketing driven by co-creational services — rather than saying ‘automated tools’ — can achieve.
101 Shutter Uses
Shutter upcycling mania! All found via Pinterest. Please click on images for sources as the Pinterest embed code doesn’t work with this blog. (Is it me?)
You didn’t really think I was going to post 101, did you?
Home Siding Options
I’ll be looking at a few outdated ranches this week. I suppose you can say that’s more of a challenge than restoring an old farmhouse. In anticipation of this possible project, I’m trying to come up with some fun ideas for the exterior.
Now since money is the main factor, as long as the -ugh- vinyl or aluminum siding is in good shape, the least expensive thing to do would be paint it some funky color. Yes, these surfaces can be painted as long as they are properly prepped. The cute yellow house above has painted aluminum clapboard.
Remember that awesome bungalow in The Rockaways? Corrugated metal seems like a more modern and tasteful approach than your run of the mill siding.
Board and batt can work with any style home, from a church to a barn. If it’s a straight siding job, you can assemble and paint before installation. Sure, there will be touch up, but it should be much easier than painting once it’s attached to the house. You can and should also pre-paint wood clapboard.
This is 4’x10′ sheets of hardipanel ripped down to 24″ and painted. As long as it keeps the water out and isn’t crazy to maintain, there are plenty of materials out there that can be used as alternatives to plain ole’ siding.
Here’s what they call “Redneck Siding”. What does it say about me that I love it? And it can be made from 100% recycled materials!
Can’t decide? Why not mix it up? Here’s a variety of reclaimed materials that would probably work well on a raised ranch as there varying depths on the exterior.
Bathroom Before and After
Before
When we moved back to Brooklyn and took over an extra floor of the house, our tenant lost his access to the shared laundry room, so we told him we would give him a washer/dryer upstairs. Somehow he got a whole new bathroom out of us since we were doing the installation in that room (w/d not seen in photo). We paid for materials and he did the work. We collaborated on the design, but it was mostly him. You know I’m not a modern kind of gal. I like it though!
After
Ok, so these aren’t really the “after” shots of the the bathroom. They are the “almost finished” photos I took back in June. The blue tape is now gone, the vanity has been painted black and there’s a window instead of plastic. The washer/dryer is hidden behind dark glass that matches the shower door.
Oh, here’s a way before shot below, from when we first bought the house. We just kind of updated it for awhile without gutting it. BTW, of course we found wood rot and other damage when we ripped it apart. We also gained about 3 inches of height since there were layers of tile and concrete that needed to come up. Gotta love these homeowners who just put band aids on stuff and leave it for the next guy or gal.
Way Before
Furniture for Small Apartments
Fusion from Ikea is the perfect design for a small kitchen or dining area. The chairs fit neatly under the table because of the leg placement. Genius! Comfortable? Have you ever eaten at the corner end of the table? $299.
A Murphy bed is a Murphy bed, but how cool is a bed that drops down from the ceiling? That’s like Batman shit. Found this one on Museum of Furniture website. It probably takes a very specialized contractor to install this or you might end up with the upstairs neighbors on top of you.
Expandable antique tables aren’t that difficult to come by. They may not be less expensive than an Ikea table, but you can be sure that they are better quality. The table in the photo is a drop leaf gate table. Library tables are often expandable as well.
Martha Stewart has a “how to” on this armoire made from two bookcases. Need to hide your office or crafts? This is key, baby!
Bedroom Upcycling Ideas
This is a guest post by Jeremy who loves writing about living green, saving money and DIY. He is from EasyApplianceParts, a DIY resource and retailer of appliance replacement parts.
We spend almost one third of our life in the bedroom. The bedroom is our space to relax, unwind and leave the stress of the world behind. Creating a bedroom that is your own sanctuary can be done without having to spend a fortune redecorating. How? The answer is upcycling. This means taking existing items and repurposing them to build the bedroom of your dreams. The recipe for an upcycling designer is a layer of personal design style, followed by a cup of creativity, two cups of the materials you’ll need and a sprinkle patience, topped off by a do-it-yourself attitude.
Create your own furniture
Buying a brand new bedroom set can be expensive. Most of the bedroom sets currently available from furniture stores are made from particle-board based wood. Create your own durable and stronger bedroom set by using previously used wood such as boards, planks and wood pallets. Solid wood pieces can be found in antique stores, yard sales, estate auctions or old barns.
Making your own bed – Wood pallets used to transport goods can be obtained from nurseries or home stores. They can be transformed into just about anything – desks, chairs, end tables, benches and beds. Homedit has developed a stylish and easy to build platform bed made from wood pallets. The best part of this idea is that it costs next to nothing to build. The only materials that are needed are wood pallets, hinges and casters. Add your mattress, paint and you’re done. An extra added benefit to a wood pallet platform bed is it can be enlarged or reduced as required.
Extra seating – If your bedroom is large try adding in a bench at the edge of the bed or by the window for a window seat. Old coffee tables or a small garden bench can be used to make your own bench – just add some paint, cushion and the bench is ready.
Elf Door
The Moxie Spot on Atlantic Avenue has the best door in the world. I’ve always thought of it as a door for adults, kids and dogs. Well, it being the holidays season and all, let’s just say that baby entrance is for little elves. Have you ever noticed that door? It’s da bomb!
Antique Decor in Period Condo
No, it’s not for sale and it’s not in New York. My witty friend forwarded some photos of her friend, artist Roberta Glick’s apartment because she knew I’d flip out over it. Roberta decorated the unit in what I like to call “Hip Old Lady Chic”. It’s not quite “Shabby Chic” because shabby chic tends to be the just-slap-some-white-paint-on-it style. Hip Old Lady Chic has a dusty old Victorian feel to it rather than the crappy Mid Century vintage these kids today go for.
Antique frames don’t need anything inside to look amazing on the wall. They are works of art in themselves. Here, they’re displayed on the table as well as the wall.
You just don’t see too many crystal sconces around these days. Maybe because they didn’t survive or maybe because they are a bitch to clean.
The beautiful old armoire would look great on it’s own, but the inclusion of vintage hats and hat boxes puts the fun into it. I’d imagine that armoire is filled with vintage clothes! Or just a bunch of clutter like my own antique armoire.
Yeah, that’s where this apartment is! The National Park Seminary. Very Mohonk Mountain House, no? It’s actually an old resort in Silver Spring, MD built in 1887. It served as a girl’s school and a rehabilitative hospital for wounded soldiers over the years. The property is an historic treasure open to the public. The condos are only part of the structure.
It’s a First Dog Christmas at the White House
This year’s White House Christmas tree theme, at least for the blue room anyway, honors the military. That’s wonderful and it’s the admirable thing to do because the military deserves our respect. But guess who got the oohs and ahs out of this gal? The dog.
Christmas has gone to the dogs in the White House this year and Bo’s approval rating is probably higher than his Dad’s these days. Wonder if Bo would let the Republicans keep him on such a tight leash?
Bo 2012!
Via Washington Post
Recycled Sukkahs
Sukkot begins tonight. For those of us unfamiliar with this Jewish holiday, it just means that alternate side parking rules are suspended this Thursday and Friday (Woot!). Sukkot is the shed holiday. Yeah, NOW you know what I’m talking about!
According to Rabbinical code, the sukkah (shed) cannot be located under trees, Stars must be visible from the roof, which must be made of material that is cut from the earth. For a better explanation, please visit the Babak Bryan website. They are the guys who created the Fractured Bubble sukkah above. The bubble is not really made from recycled materials, but rather invasive species that were picked from local wetlands. The design won People’s Choice in 2010’s Sukkah City and I love it too much not to include it.
Each image links to more info on that particular sukkah.
Past Sukkah post.
DIY Fun with Plastic
Yes, I’m a ho for Plastics Make it Possible. Those dudes along with Ogilvy PR sent me down to the Solar Decathlon and the inspiration I got from these kids in the competition is the gift that keeps on giving.
Ok, so check out the light fixture used in the Purdue University home, which BTW, took second place. Not too shabby. I don’t know how much they did from scratch, but if they started with 4 pendants and built the lucite shade, then they would have built the frame and drilled holes in the lucite to attach the bolts. I’ll bet you can find something similar with a clear shade. The beauty of this is the sand. Yes, that’s just sand.
All you have to do to make one of these babies is tape the edges and find a clear, non yellowing adhesive. I’m guessing a spray adhesive would work brilliantly. But here’s the thing. Why stick with beige? You can do any color sand. Make it a red light, Roxanne. Or!! You don’t even have to stick with sand. What about recycled glass? Recycled multi-colored plastic bottles and such on the outside of the lucite? Or recycled crazy straws? That’s crazy fun! Use heavier glue for these. Are you getting the picture?
The LED backlit panels used by Appalachian’s Solar Homestead rocked my world. They weren’t the only ones to use these acrylic sheets to set mood lighting, but they were the only ones I got a picture of. Seems an easy enough project. Run your lights and cover them with translucent plastic sheets. Get creative with it by framing and hanging “light boxes” instead of covering the entire wall.
The back splash above was in the City College of New York Solar Roof Pod. (Woot! Woot!) To be honest, I didn’t catch what the materials are. I’m going to guess that it’s Corian or another acrylic solid surface material with glass inlays. Easier and less expensive than buying a sheet of Corian would be to make a resin backdrop and set in the accents instead of cutting into the piece. Remember that you can work on a horizontal surface and hang it once dry. If you’re going with resin, the possibilities are endless. I happen to love the clean look of this one, but remember my resin countertop? It could easily be a backsplash.
So, there ya go. Tomorrow I’ll show you some fun wood projects. But just one more word on plastic. I could not have made it through the rainy weekend without the following two items keeping my feet and pants dry. So, thank you again, plastics, for making it possible to stay comfortable on the nastiest of nasty days.
Stairs in Tight Spaces
We are preparing for our next home improvement project: the basement. The plan is to clean it up and seal it so we can let the cats have their own playroom down there. Before any work gets done, the first thing we need to address are those stairs that have been dangerously hanging by one nail for the entire 6 years we’ve lived here.
Basic basement steps are easy enough to install. Prefab stringers can be purchased to make life easier. You can even find full staircase kits ready to go. For those, you would only need to measure ground floor to top landing and make sure it’s all level, plum and well supported.
Of course it’s never that simple for us. For some reason, we have the waste line running alongside our basement stairs. That’s why someone decided to build an unevenly supported staircase by moving right stringer in by oh, about six inches. Can’t figure out why they thought this would work, but then again we don’t get a lot of their “fixes” in this house.
So, what do you do when trying to install a stairway in a narrow area with a sewage pipe and crumbly plaster walls on either side? And no, moving the pipe is not something we want to do.
The floating staircase is the idea we’re leaning towards at the moment. The straight stairway above has a metal mono stringer running down the middle instead of the usual twin supports. This shouldn’t interfere with the weirdness on the sides and the one tread that hits the pipe can be cut shorter.
Here’s a narrow staircase. Kind of weird and not for us. But it beats a rope or fireman’s pole if you don’t have space.
Of course the worst part about this is the cost. A basic Home Depot set of DIY basement stairs should cost around a couple of hundred bucks. These fancy schmancy kits will run closer to two grand. I haven’t researched thoroughly yet, but I’m hoping we can just buy that mono stringer and cut our own treads. It will save some dough.
Kits:
Dumpster Living
How To:Glitter Floor
Crafty Chica gives us a DIY tip on how to create a glitter floor on her blog!