This Sleek Shipping Container Studio Hides Among The Trees

Mar 9, 2015

In the last 10 years we’ve seen a massive influx of structures being designed and build using recycled shipping containers. Take for example this forest studio, which transforms the rugged steel boxes into sublime interiors, all the while celebrating the rough aesthetic of the corrugated steel exterior. Large glazed openings insert into the open ends of the container allowing for sweeping views of the surrounding foliage.

The interiors are minimal and white, allowing the surrounding forest to be the star of the show.

At night the studio glows like a tiny jewel box in the middle of the dense trees.

Multiple containers are fitted together to extend the limited footprint that a single container can occupy. The studio was designed by Maziar Behrooz Architecture as part of their Insta_Houses series of pre-fabricated homes.

Photos by: Dalton Portella & Francine Fleischer

Offgrid In Normandy: How He Built This Modern A-Frame On A Budget

Mar 11, 2015

When you think of living off the grid, various images come to mind, and no doubt some of you envision grizzled people huddled together for warmth, living in some remote forest.

A Little Caesars commercial recently illustrated this in a funny way:

However, that’s not the most accurate portrayal of life off the grid. As Jean-Baptiste Barache demonstrated, building an offgrid house for cheap doesn’t mean you need to compromise living conditions. His A-frame barn, stationed in the middle of a field in Normandy, France, is a perfect example.

He paid a local barn builder to construct the rough frame, and then collected various salvaged materials from all over the place – lumber from theater sets, veneer and particleboard, and red cedar shingles for the exterior cladding. All said and done after 18 months of working on the build, he estimates it cost around $105k.

Going without electricity doesn’t mean forgoing power, but it does cast daily life in a much simpler mold. A gas canister fuels the simple stovetop in the kitchen; a homemade wood-burning stove diffuses heat through the house in a slow, steady burn.

The front of the barn looks decidedly antique…

While inside, the rough, unfinished walls and ceiling keep costs down. Upstairs you’ll find three “pods” for sleeping.

At night he and his wife light candles and oil lamps, and Jean-Baptiste refers to Junichiro Tanizaki’s “In Praise of Shadows” as a source of inspiration for living comfortably without electricity, noting the appreciation he has for the shadows cast by the flickering flames.

Images: Céline Clanet

This Unique “Ultra Green” Building Is Covered In A Green-Wall Exoskeleton

Sep 7, 2015

Brazilian architecture firm Triptyque have designed an office building in Sao Paolo that not only collects rain water, but utilizes a sophisticated filtration and delivery system to irrigate naturally insulating green walls. A maze-like network of water pipes snake up and down the building’s facades, fitted with misters that provide the living walls with freshly recycled rain water.

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The project is an ecological experiment aimed at challenging how society deals with water – how it can be collected, recycled, and redistributed with little need for waste or run-off. In addition to the green wall system, a series of planted roofs further mitigate the structures environmental footprint. When the misting nozzles are on full tilt, the building is enveloped in what appears to be a stationary cloud, reinforcing the issue of water conservation in both function and aesthetic.

In 2010, the unique green features won this office building the ‘Built Environment’ award from the Zumtobel Group.

15 Outlandish Homes Pushing The Limits Of Creativity

Sep 10, 2015

The world is a strange and beautiful place. Each of these 15 homes proves that we are not limited by conventional thought when it comes to designing and creating something truly unique. Using what we can find, what we know, and what we think we can learn, the world can become just a little bit stranger, and a lot more beautiful.

11Floating your boat house.

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This 768sf Space Is Pure Eye Nectar For the Minimalist Home Lover

Jun 7, 2017

Wishbone has been at the top of the list of best tiny house builders for some time, so it’s no surprise they also design some pretty stylish ADUs (accessory dwelling units). Just check out this lovely offering, dubbed the “Schilling”. It’s bright, airy, and provides more than enough room to stretch your legs, while still maintaining a very small footprint, making it a perfect in-law or income property for the spacious backyard.

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A Family Of Four Fits Comfortably In This Tiny Cabin

Apr 26, 2015

Emerging from a snow covered mountainside in Trollheimen Meldal, Norway is 118 SF of one Norwegian families home away from home. This ski cabin may be small in stature, but it is big in function, nostolgia and old-world charm. The goal was simple: built a low-maintenance structure that used only the modest footprint it needed to provide areas for sleeping, cooking, eating and grooming.

The cabin features sleeping areas for Bendik Manum and Annelise Bjerkanand and their two kids, has no electricity or running water. Low-maintenance is right!

The use of local materials such as low-travel pine for the interior and exterior finishes add to the cabin’s sense of place, and fit in with the family’s vision of crafting a design that embraces its place.

Inside the cabin you’ll find all the comforts of a traditional ski cabin, featuring exposed wood beams, insulated windows and a wood fire stove for low-energy heating. Overhead lofts double as hanging space for clothing and tools. In a space of this size, double duty functionality is essential. Storage madness! This family doesn’t need much, but they have ample space for that which they do. This wood fire stove is about as old-school as it gets. The space is simple, yet charming and elegant. The use of a single finish material gives the space a desired uniformity.photos c/o: Pasi Aalto

Beautiful Tiny A-Frame Nestled Among The Redwoods

Sep 1, 2015

Drive north of San Francisco a few hours and you enter a part of California that’s unlike most of the rest of the state. The sandy beaches are replaced by rocky shores, and the vast desert plains by lush rolling hills filled with massive Redwoods. This little A-frame seems like the perfect escape, located just a short drive from the Sonoma Coast and some historic old towns.

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Interested in staying at this beautiful little A-Frame? You can rent it via Airbnb.

These Awe-Inspiring Treehouses Will Sweep You Off Your Feet…Literally

Sep 8, 2015

No matter what your age, the idea of having a treehouse always captivates our imagination, spurring a sense of freedom and escape. And nobody does it better than Artistree, the skilled builder who created these magnificent examples for Cypress Valley Canopy Tours.

The Nest, inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, features a number of inter-connected units accessible via stairs, ladders, and bridges.

“I love the feeling of awe. We’ve all felt it at some point or another in our lives, probably more when we were kids. Feelings of awe seemingly break the shackles off one’s imagination, and open a world of possibilities.”

– Will Beilharz, treehouse designer / ArtisTree Homes

The Lofthaven is a smaller, albeit still incredible option for guests, designed to accommodate two people.

Photo courtesy of Artistree Homes

Aside from offering a magical escape for its guests, Cypress Canopy has plenty of other things to keep you entertained, from an exciting zipline to a more relaxing private waterfall bath.

Luxurious Modern Shipping Container Home in Venice, CA

Aug 21, 2015

This beautiful example of a shipping container home is found in Venice, CA and consists of three 20′ containers joined together. Each container has a unique purpose in the layout, with one serving as a home office, another as a kitchen, and the third as the bedroom and bathroom.

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Images © ipme

Take a video tour of the property

This is a perfect example of container housing done right, with a nice blend of style and comfort. The luxury finishes such as skylights, custom cabinets, and even a steam room add a nice touch to the space, and make it feel like a very upscale place to live.

Keep Your Man Cave – I’ll Daydream In My “She Shed”

Apr 24, 2015

For years we’ve heard about “man caves” and seen them in all their glory, the wooden walls adorned with pennants from their favorite sports teams and poster of pin-up girls, big screen television in one corner and a fridge stocked with Coors Light next to the leather sofa. But what about the women in their life? Surely they must have an equivalent type of space to find solace right?

They do, and we call them “she sheds”, a phenomenon which has undoubtedly existed in one form or another for centuries. Unlike their male counterparts, women tend to have a bit more decorating sense, and infuse their personal space with a unique style that’s purposeful. Today we share some of our favorite she-sheds with you, and perhaps you’ll draw inspiration from these to create your own backyard haven.

#1. It’s always ladies night in this retro diner. Milkshakes and Marghertas anyone?

Anne and Ian Bate via dailymail.co.uk

#2. Your man won’t be caught dead stepping inside this garden oasis!

Via Cottage Gardening

#3. A fitting spot to do a bit of writing perhaps, summoning the soul of Virgina Woolf.

Via Wooden House

#4. A scarlet bohemian style place to enjoy a cup of tea perhaps, or hang out with your reading circle.

Cuprinol via dailymail.co.uk

#5. A potting paradise for the garderner

Via Heather Bullard

#6. My quiet spot, surrounded by nature and fresh air…

Ann and Brian Bailey via Goodreadsdailymail.co.uk

#7. I’ll just be in my yoga studio, you know, drinking wine…

Cuprinol via dailymail.co.uk

#8. The she shed is where the heart is!

Jamie and Gemma Dix via dailymail.co.uk

#9. Because you need the right inspiration for your potting studio.

Via Wooden House

#10. Put a palm tree in here and have a staycation.

Via Coastal Home

#11. And to think men put lawnmowers and tools in here – this seems like a much better use of the space!

Via House to Home

#12. Even your plants need a bit of inspiration.

Via Better Homes and Gardens

#13. A shabby chic Victorian styled escape to romanticize the day away

Via tinyhouseblog

#14. While he’s watching the “big game” with the guys I’ll be in my Victorian manor with my ladies enjoying a peaceful spot of tea.

#15. The perfect setting for a secret ladies-only dinner club.

via pinterest.com

#16. Don’t even try to park your lawnmower in here!

If you could have your own she-shed what would you use it for? Let us know in the comments below!

I could see plenty of excuses to retreat to my own personal space like this. All I’d need is an electric wire fence around the perimeter to ensure total privacy from the kids and husband, am I right?