There’s a notion, among folks I’ve met, that all green dwellings are weird, kooky, or minimal (read boring) but that’s not true at all. I actually do like the unique green dwellings, but many green homes are being built nowadays in contemporary styles, modern styles, and basic styles. You can’t even tell that some green homes are green from looking at them, so if you’re interested in green homes, but not in extreme green homes, you do have plenty of options.

Image via Lifecycle Building Challenge

Here are some various ends of the green home spectrum. Starting with, yes, the unique. This to-die for home seen above is fresh from the Lifecycle Building Challenge – something that the ever green Jetson Green covered in depth. This particular home, the Loblolly House: Unbolt, Detach, Reassemble was one of the challenge winners and it’s easy to see why. This beautiful beyond belief, prefab, energy conserving, waste reducing home is simply awesome.

Image via Tumbleweed Tiny House Company

If small and sweet is your dream then Tumbleweed homes are perfect for you (see above). Space saving, resource saving, and green to the max.

Image via A Low Impact Woodland Home

One of my favorite green homes is the amazing Woodland House. This home is not only unique but greener than green with so many eco-feature you can’t believe it. Learn more.

See a slide show of TEN amazing green homes – from cob to prefab to green remodels and more. There’s a green home styled just for you in this slide show.

From time to time I’ll share some other cool green homes here – stay tuned.

Post from: Blisstree

Luscious Green Houses

Happy Valentine’s Day Offbeat people. Now, there aren’t too many heart-minded structures around, so we’re going to look at something sort of different today. The cutest thing I could think of for Valentine’s Day here at Offbeat – adorable little offbeat dollhouses…

The Citadel by Lolly’s Dollhouse via Modern Dollhouses and Miniatures – lovely and modern. I can’t believe how realistic this looks.

If I was a tiny doll, I might live here. I do love a road trip. (see the interior!). Via Crumb Catchers.

Räume is a total delight. Mod, peppy in color, and perfect for unique dollhouse owners. More coolness to see at Hase Weiss.

Roost Modern Architectural Model at the always fab Velocity Art & Design.

The coolest dollhouse ever if you happen to be a fairy doll is Hostel U Ulitki via Popgive. The details and creativity here are utterly amazing. Lots more images to see. Check out the woodworking on all the furniture!

Hope you have a wonderful and of course slightly kooky Valentine’s Day.

Post from: Blisstree

I Heart Small & Adorable Offbeat Architecture

The amazing Gingerbread House:

[House image via here]

This entire house is knitted (apart from the wooden door and windows). All the interior furniture, food, and home accessories are also knitted. There’s even a knitted garden full of flowers and a knit 12 ft tree surrounding the house. The house was created and went on tour in order to secure donations for Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and North Devon Hospice. It took hundreds of knitters to get this home finished (not a shock). Can you imagine?

My favorite part is the assortment of knitted goodies inside the house…

[image via here]

Read more about this house, and see many more images at Daily Mail.

See a slide show of the house.

Very cool – what do you think?

Post from: Blisstree

The Knitted Gingerbread House

Let’s say I was looking. I’d most likely go with A Masseria in Italy (I’ve got serious Italy crush). Cost: $1.58414 USD (gasp).

Which castle would you purchase?

[image via International Listings]

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Short on cash? Buy your dream castle for $250k or less

Do you know?

It’s the Witch’s Hut from The Brothers Grimm famous German fairy tale Hansel & Gretel. This particular version is located in Kildonan Park in Winnipeg.

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Guess the spooky structure

Is this maybe one of the cutest little castles ever? I think so. Don’t think I’d live there. If I was ten years old maybe, but not now. Still, it’s pretty darn adorable. Mushroom Castle was built by David Lee in East Boothbay, Maine.

You can see many more castles at Castles of the United States.

Post from: Blisstree

Sweet Little Castle

Is there a catch? Yeah. I can’t find any info on this house, other then it’s in Berea, Ohio. I’ve been to Ohio, but it was oh so long ago, and I’m pretty sure I was never in Berea. So, all you Offbeat readers from Berea are going to have to come out of the woodwork and tell me about this cute little house.

[image via City of Berea]

Post from: Blisstree

The Adorable Berea, Ohio Bridge House

I don’t know why, but lately I’ve been stretching out from my usual feast of architect and green blogs, and while I was doing so, one blog I found happened to be Electro^Plankton. It was a good find though, because look at this stellar house they have posted:

It’s not so much a house as it is a chapel, but it’s weirding me out. Mainly because they note that it’s, “Off highway 1 in California” yet I never saw it. Was I in a complete fog in California or what? Maybe. See another picture of this hat-like abode.

They also have this item below, which I don’t like at all – but it is Offbeat material. I thought it might be fun to guess at this one. First take a look:

Can you tell what this item is? Before you look. I knew what it was, but for a few minor seconds, I had this feeling it was something else – what does it look like to you? Don’t cheat.

In any case, you can visit Electro^Plankton to see more of the strange and slick items they feature: I suggest you start with the following posts – perfect Offbeat Homes what not…

• If The Doorknob’s A-missin’, Don’t Come A-knockin’
• Artlebedev Defendius Door Chain – this post is too cool – go see.
• The Cell Toilet
• OMG Billboard Homes!

[All pics, links, etc, above via Electro^Plankton - the hopeless love is all me though]

Post from: Blisstree

Currently Hopelessly In Love With…. Electro^Plankton

I love how this roof turned out. You can see a picture of this home, before the roof was re-done, at a great home blog, Unusual Life. UL by the way, has the most amazing picture of a Magic Bus right now.

Post from: Blisstree

Fairy Tale Molded Roof

This classic is the Hansel & Gretyl Cottage, and it’s quite close to where I live.

To see some great interior shots and learn more, visit the classic post.

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Classic Offbeat: Hansel & Gretyl Cottage