Post from: Blisstree

Offbeat link love in three words or less…

That said, I was recently offered a guest post from the bloggers over at the newer, but cool ChicTip.com. I like the blog, I like the bloggers, and I like when good new design blogs emerge, hence, a guest post from them. Also, I like their about page, which notes, “We feature stores, products, artists, reviews, sales, contests announcements, trends-in-the-make and more. Because this isn’t just a blog, it’s a community – for designers seeking inspiration, and for amateur design enthusiasts. This is a place where we can all come together, sharing our ideas, tips, and questions with like-minded people.” Which is totally my thinking about blogs – open, friendly, old-school community, and not snobby at all. Very nice.

Today I thought we’d look at ChicTip a little closer. They have some great posts so far and are worth a visit. Such as…

Foscarini – Modern Outdoor Lighting

Modern Menorahs – Our Top 5 List

They even make nice inspiration boards – which rocks. I like this one above: Back to The 50s – Inspiration Board

ChicTip has design tips, eco-design, furniture, materials, and even a few kid and green decor items I hadn’t heard of yet (impressive since I blog kid and green decor all over the darn web). I recommend you hit them up and see all their goodies.

[images via ChicTip.com]

Post from: Blisstree

New Design Blog Worth Visiting – ChicTip.com

Transparent Concrete – something I’m embarrassed to say, I just realized existed. Bad me. It’s luscious though. Many more cool images at the link.

[image via Gadget Gearz]

House on hazardous hill, The Treehouse, Victoria, Australia – beauty like you would not believe- visit to see and learn more.

[image via niki omahe]

And on the lighter side of things – a bed you do not want to wake up on the wrong side of…

Personally, I’m thinking, adding some fish would be cool.

[image via Natuba]

If you’re sick, Stumble Upon is a great way to kill time. See what else I like at Stumble Upon, or get your own account.

Post from: Blisstree

Three Best Stumble Finds of the Week

I’d lose the vase, but the Greek Revival French chairs are spectacular. And the art – well, obviously totally dreamy. Some spaces were a little fussy for my taste, but overall, I really enjoyed the show. Actually, if I were you, I’d also hit the Library slide show going on. A little ornate, but some of the ways that people store their favorite books are simply amazing.

See Paris spaces.

[image via Architectural Digest]

Post from: Blisstree

Great Designs from the City of Lights

In any case, this is my favorite slide show in a while and you have to check it out. I can’t show you any previews here, because being sued for image issues is not exactly on my to-do list for the day, and dealing with permission from the NY Times, would be well, time consuming. SO you’re going to have to click. I’m telling you though, this one click is worth it. You’ll gather some great offbeat ideas that you can implement in your own home, or get inspired to start creating your own kooky interiors.

You’ll love this – 100% guaranteed.

See the On the Cheap slide show.

PS I saw this at Fabulously Green, so if you adore the show, you may want to show them some love too.

Post from: Blisstree

Lack Money, Get No Sleep, & Impress Everyone With Your Designs

Steuler Fliesen has some of the coolest tiles you’ve seen; all sorts of colors, designs, and applications. Following are a few I like, but there’s plenty to choose from if you browse the site.

Beautiful mocha/bronze-metallic floor tiles…

Kid-happy tiles like frogs…

Glas decor indian red…

And much, much more. Visit Steuler Fliesen to see all the imaginative tiles available.

[images via Steuler Fliesen]

Post from: Blisstree

Unique Tiles for Your Unique Home

Look at this:

Lovely roofing structure. The whole home is unbelievably slick. The water tank is this huge white teardrop like structure in the middle of the living room. The tanks serves to store rainwater, cool the living room, and is structurally necessary for the roof weight.

To see more (much more) of this beautiful and unique home visit the post at Materialicious.

Post from: Blisstree

Who Said Water Tanks Were Boring?

Today I have a kitchen first off. A kitchen sounds dull but this kitchen is so sleek. Really unique.  I’ve been in love with this Gorenje kitchen by French designer Ora-Ïto, since I first saw it at Gizmodo. They likened it to the iPhone of kitchens. I don’t know about that; but surely you’d be the only one on your block with one of these set-ups.

What I love best is how you can’t tell where appliances start and stop. The look is seamless.

Really, very nice look. And I don’t even love black. To see more visit Gorenje. They actually have quite a few designs that are truly unique.

Post from: Blisstree

Seamless Unique Kitchen

As in blogs I write; not read because that would be a whole other discussion. I think about this a lot because most professional bloggers I know do have more than one blog. I think that there are some pros and cons to playing favorites.

Is it even fair to play favorites? How do you judge one blog over another when content varies so drastically? And what about job stability. How will your other employers like it when you blurt out, “Guess what? My other blog rocks so much more hard core than the one I write for you.”

Yup it surely is a conundrum.

So the title was a misleading fib. Or is it? Let’s just say that IF Offbeat Homes is my favorite I might be able to come up with some reasons why.

1. Because I adore wacky homes, the building process (mostly), and great architect minds impress me so what better way to spend my time than stalking stuff like this:

2. Because cool folks who build amazing homes like the one below are nice enough to tell me about it.

3. Because lord knows what a life without Lego cat churches might look like — in fact, I dread the thought.

4. Because seriously, what could be better than a house built up in a Redwood tree?

5. Because this is my only blog that gets a good bulk of hits from keywords like Dracula’s Castle. Fun! And spooky.

6. Because my peeps from the other Home & Dining channel blogs are the best. They force me to do stuff like this; we discuss meaningful issues like The Great Space Coaster when no one else is around and they let be be mean if I feel like it. What more could you ask of from a blog channel? Honestly I just don’t know.

7. Because green homes are the best and I see lots and lots.

8. Because I get to talk to fun sparkling people.

9. Because life should never ever be dull:

10. Because Offbeat readers rock! They leave the best comments and are the most fun ever.

That might be stuff I’d say IF Offbeat Homes was my favorite blog. But that’s all just hypothetical.

Post from: Blisstree

Offbeat Homes Is My Favorite Blog: 10 Reasons Why

I most absolutely do not walk around talking about poop. No matter the composting benefits; no matter the, “It’s just a part of life” deal. I don’t discuss it — too often. That’s likely why I don’t own a dog. Too much poop business. And before you go saying, “Oh, but you had a baby — they poop and you deal!” Guess what my little uses the toilet now where as a dog; not usually.

Speaking of the child; my son Cedar joyfully discusses poop every chance he gets so he might love this house idea. Myself; I don’t know whether to be appalled or blown away by the sheer eco-genius that is the poop house.

What do you think?

Here’s the actual house:

The wit behind this structure are the design talents at Andrew Maynard Architects; noted for being newer innovators in structure form. I really adore the various Andrew Maynard structures that I’ve seen up to this point – -they’re always sort of awe-inspiring and offbeat. I hadn’t checked the website in a good long while and look what they come up with — livable poop. That’ll learn me to keep up.

Their theory behind this structure; no building is honestly green. They aren’t wrong. I think you can come pretty close but you can’t avoid leaving a footprint and you can’t avoid using some sort of energy — that may be simply loads of man power but still; heck you could be out cleaning up the planet instead of building if you want to get technical. But I digress.

So, hence the Poop House. Let’s hear from the designer’s site because I’m not going to tackle explaining this one:

“We decided that a house should build itself through a lengthy period of assembling house hold waste… the Poop house is a water structure that, over time, takes all household bio-waste, including human excrement and food, and slowly constructs the walls and roof.”

What you see above is the basic gist of how this home is going to create it’s own hard-like frame; I guess you’d call it. More from the actual Poop House pdf:

“Solid waste is delivered directly to the outer layer where the water is filtered out of the solids. Here the solids form a dense structural layer over time. A closed system has been formed so that minimal water is lost during usage and the recycling process. No closed system is perfect though, therefore water is lost through evaporation, spillage, human activity etc. Hence over a long period of time (around 20 years) the majority of the water will be lost, however a thick thermally efficient structural wall will remain, constructed of solid household waste.”

Visit Andrew Maynard Architects to learn more about and see more photos of this strange piece of work.

Would you live in a poop house… tell the truth now.

Post from: Blisstree

The Poop House