If you’re looking for inspiration about how to unique up the exterior of your home, look no further than Sam’s Mailbox Pictures. This is an odd little site I found a while ago, and it’s super cool. I suppose I never gave much thought to mailboxes, but obviously many have, because ol’ Sam has the pictures to prove it.
Here are two I like as examples:

Now, keep in mind that these are FAR from the oddest mailboxes Sam has up. You really have to visit this site – it’s amazing.
[Images via Sam's Mailbox Pictures]

So, before clicking on the link, can you guess what the inspiration is behind this house? It’s not my style. But it is pretty darn cool.

[See much more of this inspired house via devicepedia]

Check this out:

Offbeat & outdoor showering fun!

I found these killer showers at Home Design Find. I think someone should build a tall offbeat home and put them in their bathroom.
Learn more about said showers.
I recently received an email from some nice person at HDF informing me of their blog. Being a sucker for homes (shocking) I headed over and saw these showers. I looked around some more, and although HDF is new, I’m going to recommend you check them out. They’ve got some cool offbeat stuff – some stuff we’ve seen here and some new. If HDF continues on with …read more

This house is really great; wish I’d heard of it earlier I would have gone house stalking the last time I was in Utah. This is worth 7 minutes – I promise.

If you haven’t seen the work of Robert Harvey Oshatz, then you’re in for a huge treat, because he’s our only guest here at Offbeat today. He’s that cool. He gets the whole day. Although really he’s so cool he should get the month. But I digress.
Oshatz has designed many an amazing structure in my home state – Oregon and in other areas as well, as far reaching as Japan. His work is a mix of commercial, residential, religious, and more. What I love is how his work is entirely unique yet somehow manages to fit into the landscape so …read more

Ok, hopelessly may be pushing it. It’s not like I’m sending them stalker letters or visiting them first thing of the day. That said, I do really, super, very much adore this blog. It’s not an architect blog, more a smattering of stuff – mostly wicked cool stuff.
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 …read more

Would you live inside a big rock? Apparently some will. This summer, this rock home below sold for £100,000; up four times over the asking price of £25,000. Wow; no electricity or water either, I believe.

Read more about the home itself, and see more pictures, at Metro or the Daily Mail, or learn more about the final sale and watch a video at the BBC News.
Personally, I think it might be chilly. Although, it is slightly charming, in a very old world sort of way.

You may remember Swamplot from the famed wood paneling house. Well, they recently sent me another gem of a structure – this one loaded to the brim; with bathrooms!
Look at this, it’s unbelievable.

See all the red arrows – those are flippin’ bathrooms. There’s only four bedrooms! What could you possibly need with nine-and-a-half bathrooms – one of which has it’s own terrace?
Swamplot asks this of the perfect potential owner:
“Do you experience the urge to urinate frequently? Do you suffer from recurring bladder infections?enlarged prostate? And one more question: Do you have $8.5 million burning a hole in your (probably moist) …read more

Ryan Thewes is a newer name on the design scene having recently set up his own practice in Nashville. I doubt he’ll stay a newer name for long though. His background, even just as a student of design, is already impressive. He’s been lucky enough to study and work with some amazing architects such as Don Erickson, Robert Green, and Bart Prince.
Plus he’s already completed and designed some stellar work. Some of it nicely offbeat – but still livable. If you recall, this is my favorite sort of offbeat structure, “Zany and livable.”
Thewes sent me some info on a structure …read more

What does your home say right from the start? Boring or extraordinary? If you’re going to be offbeat, you may as well start with the door.
Crazy Barcelona door:

Luna: Light + Air Door from seven02design. This innovative door, works as a vent, while still ensuring security and privacy. The series of holes in the door can be opened and closed easily with a knob, of course, adjusting sound, light, and air between rooms. Thanks to Gizmodo (UK) for the heads up.

Yikes. Welcoming gate, huh. Perfect for homes with small children.

Round tiny door: 16cm x 15 cm.

So, of course you won’t …read more