PicoCool

Simple concept, well executed: the Big Window House by Tezuka Architects.

Network: blogs

stair porn is “a weblog featuring cool stairs from around the world created by Justin Anthony, a New Yorker who is currently residing in Phoenix, AZ., and was a residential restoration specialist for 25 years.”

Network: blogs

"When Charlie Kratzer started on the basement art project in his south Lexington home, he was surrounded by walls painted a classic cream. Ten dollars of Magic Marker and Sharpie later, the place was black and cream and drawn all over...How did this Sharpie world start? With a single swipe of the marker. Kratzer started mid-wall, with the Salon by Picasso. Then he thought, well, taking a design out to the edge of the wall wouldn’t be overwhelming. Then the rest of the basement flared off that first wall.

Kratzer’s basement suggests that the great cultural influences wandered out of college humanities class—here a Churchill for eloquence during harsh times, a Joan Crawford for cinematic vampiness, Holmes and Poirot for great literary characterization—and set up shop together in the carefully hand-drawn markings of an educated imagination come to life.”

Kratzer might be a lawyer by day, but in his off hours he is a man who has taken the artistic influences and heroes of his life and imagined them onto his walls, that he might keep company with them while he uses the pool table.” Read the full story and see a 360 view of his basement…

[via marshallk on Twitter]

Network: twitter

The Factory / Rectangle is a “planter for your pleasure.” Designed by Chiaki Murata and produced by Metaphys. (via Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

The French company Ecosmart makes these extremely minimal and surprising fire “stations” for your home. (via akuba at Stylehive)

Network: stylehive

This fantastic low impact home was built by a family in Wales.  “It was built by myself and my father in law with help from passers by and visiting friends. 4 months after starting we were moved in and cosy. I estimate 1000-1500 man hours and 3000 pounds put in to this point. Not really so much in house buying terms (roughly 60 pounds/sq m excluding labour)...The house was built with maximum regard for the environment and by reciprocation gives us a unique opportunity to live close to nature. Being your own (have a go) architect is a lot of fun and allows you to create and enjoy something which is part of yourself and the land rather than, at worst, a mass produced box designed for maximum profit and convenience of the construction industry. Building from natural materials does away with producers profits and the cocktail of carcinogenic poisons that fill most modern buildings.” Their story is inspirational and full of happiness.  Everyone should try this. (Thanks to Max Kiesler for the tip)

Network: blogs

Karl Zahn rethinks electrical outlets with Wall Cleat and stashes electrical cords behind a Picket Fence to hide clutter. (via Core77)

Network: blogs

We’ve used sensor soap pumps in commercial places but hadn’t seen one for home or office. Here’s a small sensor soap pump from SimpleHuman that dispenses soap touch-free (less germs). Our only critique is that it’s AA battery operated, so make sure you use rechargeable batteries and recycle them properly. [via Moco Loco]

Network: blogs

Stylehiver, bellajewels posts this bookmark of Decennia Design‘s glass table. Leave it to the Dutch to creatively combine an organic image with minimal glass and metal.

Network: stylehive