Headlines - Trends | Houseblogs

HouseBlog Headlines - Trends

Eco-Houses: Not Just for Modernists Anymore

Whenever I talk to someone who is interested in building a eco-friendly house, I picture the pages of Dwell Magazine. Sleek, modern, boxy houses with gleaming stainless steel and concrete floors. So when I saw this craftsman-style eco-house (via This Old House) with its eaves, shingles, warm wood and salvaged 1950's stove? I confess that I swooned.

And just in case you thought this was a LITTLE house? Designer-Owner Stephen Beili is 6'8". With its extra long tub, multi-level countertops and clever layout, this house seems to be the perfect fit.

Posted on 11/08 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Breakin' the Law!

So we don't often get in to politics here on this site (we're united by home improvement, why ruin a good thing ) but sometimes the US government does things so silly we just have to say something.

According to an act passed today by the US House of Representatives, it could become illegal to access Houseblogs.net at your local library.

Huh? American tax dollars at work.

PS - On a more serious note if you haven't studied up on Net Neutrality you really should. If you ask us, the Interweb should stay unbiased so sites like this one aren't impacted because your service provider would 'prefer' that you visit something more in line with their own commercial interests.

Posted on 07/28 | Comments (4) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

A Little House-Related Zen

Some very nice prefab house zen, home decorating zen, and lighting zen from the folks at ChaosKitty.

Posted on 07/20 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Home Staging Without Selling

Tired of your current space? But hesitant about committing to a drastic change?

Why not consider hiring a home staging expert...even though you have no intention of moving?

When Aaron and I were selling our condo in Evanston, we got lucky. Our agent, Ed Watts, had a good eye. He was able to give us staging advice along with home selling help. We moved some clutter out, moved some furniture around, freshened up some things. After he was done with our guest room/home office, I fell in love with the place all over again. By moving the bed and desk into positions that had originally seemed counter-intuitive to me, we had so much more space!

I wish we had set up everything that way while we were still living there. Our condo had never looked better.

So, I'm thinking...why do we wait to do these things? Why do we wait until we want to SELL a house to pull out the stops and create the little changes that could make a big difference? Do home stagers work with folks who actually want to stay in their house? I have no idea. Just a thought.

Posted on 05/10 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Houseblogs.net Covers K/BIS

Contributors to Houseblogs.net were at the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (K/BIS) this past weekend to blog the latest in trends and products.

Aaron and Jeannie from House in Progress (full disclosure: we also run houseblogs.net) are attending the show, which just happens to be in Chicago where we live.

After 'live blogging' the show this weekend, coverage will continue throughout the week. You can find the full archive of our show coverage by searching the houseblogs.net archive for KBIS or by going to the KBIS 2006 archives at House in Progress.

Posted on 04/23 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Houseblogs in the Media

In case you missed it, here's a recap of several mentions of housebloggers in the press recently.

Back in January, the Twin City Bungalow Association featured several housebloggers in their latest newsletter. It was actually the second article they've had about houseblogs--Stucco House has all the details.

Then in February, the Syracuse Post Standard did a major feature on Fixer-Upper. Looks like they're now local celebrities, with high school classes taking field trips to visit their house.

Just last week, Heather and David from 1912 Bungalow were the cable channel DIY Network. They were on the show Restoration Realities. If you missed it, the network website has a nice summary, or you can read their own summary of the original shoot.

Finally, yesterday the New York Times Magazine has a two page article about houseblogs in a special issue focused on real estate. The blog mentioned Our Old House, Chicago Two Flat, and House in Progress. Special congrats to Casa Decrepit, which the author named as his personal favorite.

Congrats to everyone on being recognized for the great writing you do. Now...back to work! ;-)

PS--Housebloggers: Since the NYT article was published we've been contacted by a few other reporters interested in doing stories. Some of them were looking for a local angle, so if you care then make sure your listed on the Houseblogs Map. You can add yourself by logging in to your member account.

Posted on 03/06 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Get Smart (Homes)

For those interested in hi-tech home solutions, Builder Online recently published a useful industry review.

Their article, 'Smart Home' Wave Looms on Horizon, is geared towards professional builders and provides a nice high-level overview of trends in home technology. The article focuses primairly on wireless technologies ike Z-Wave, which is an industry standard they say several large manufacturers are starting to settle on. That said, they don't mention a lot of other competing technical standards out there (Zigbee comes to mind) so if you're serious about getting in to this stuff you'll want to use this as a starting point for further research.

Posted on 01/31 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Hot or Not? Home Improvement Trends in 2006

The Wall Street Journal weighs in with decor trends that may be destined for replacement sooner rather than later.

I always find the "what's hot" articles every year only mildly helpful. Of more value, I always appreciate articles like this one from WSJ's Real Estate Journal: Avoid These Now-Popular Home Design Trends in 2006.

Basically, they review some of the most popular design trends of recent years (granite countertops, anyone?) and ask experts which ones are likely to become "the "avocado-colored dishwasher" of this decade.

Bottom line? They're keen on timeless materials like stone and tile, skeptical about glass in cabinetry, and down right hostile to above counter, bowl-style sinks. Read the article for the full details.

Posted on 01/03 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

The Onion Uncovers the Real Victims of Rising Home Heating Costs

You think you have it bad with recent increases in home heating costs, but what about the reptiles?

In classic fashion, this week's edition of The Onion once again finds the humor in life's challenges...

"Unlike our mammalian citizens, who maintain a consistent body temperature and have the option of throwing on a sweater, reptiles are entirely dependent on external heat sources," Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) said. "All my constituents are facing rate hikes of 21 percent or more. But some of them, like it or not, may be forced into a quasi-hibernative state if they do not receive emergency fuel-price relief."

The article goes on to provide a face to the statistics.

"I don't ask for the average American to understand my lifestyle," said Arthur Marsters, 141, a cost-benefit analyst for Prudential Financial in Boston. "But there's no changing the fact that I am a giant tortoise. If I cannot maintain my core temperature, I cannot be a productive member of society, nor can I provide for my wife and latest clutch of hatchlings."

So, as you and your family gather around the fire for Christmas this weekend be sure to say a brief prayer for our forgotten mammalian friends who may not have so much under the tree this year as they struggle to keep warm and still make ends meet.

Posted on 12/20 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Big Houses? That's So 90s...

You know you have a full blown trend when even the New York Times is saying it's possible that McMansions are going out of style. (No password? Try bugmenot.com) God bless 'em!

(via Treehugger)

Posted on 10/06 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

The remainder of the archive is presented here in condensed form. To read any entry simply click on the date below each headline.

Cardboard House

Posted on 10/02 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Homes Designed for Physical Fitness

Posted on 09/25 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

TOH 2005 Best New Kitchen & Bath Technologies

Posted on 09/21 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Look in to My Crystal Ball...

Posted on 08/26 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Micro Compact Homes

Posted on 08/25 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

HGTV's Kitchen & Bath 2005

Posted on 08/20 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Yesterday's House of Tomorrow

Posted on 08/19 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Blame the Lights

Posted on 08/18 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

A Design Power Couple

Posted on 08/12 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Home Offices Replace the Family Room

Posted on 07/13 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Log Home Houseblog?

Posted on 07/07 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Does the Supreme Court Like Old Houses? Not So Much...

Posted on 06/25 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Real Estate Blogs on the Rise

Posted on 06/13 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Your Plans for Friday Night

Posted on 06/02 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Home Improvement Media Influences, Well, Home Improvement

Posted on 05/08 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Two Rooms About Does It

Posted on 05/07 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Home Improvement Trends

Posted on 05/04 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Home Depot, Your Old Timey Neighborhood Hardware Store?

Posted on 04/27 | Comments (3) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Green Remodeling Case Study

Posted on 04/25 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Green Remodeling

Posted on 04/16 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Top 10 Home Building Trends for 2005

Posted on 04/15 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Life Improvers

Posted on 04/12 | Comments (1) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Shortage of Skilled Craftsmen?

Posted on 03/27 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Old House Stat of the Day

Posted on 03/26 | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Reality TV Out of Control?

Posted on 03/22 | Comments (5) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

Timeshare, Anyone?

Posted on 02/22 | Comments (4) | Filed under Headlines : Trends

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