househacker/tags/design http://www.househacker.com/ househacker/tags/design Super Creative Skateboard Furniture
About the pic above, from the site:

Wrapped by neoprene which is the wetsuit material for surfers, this piece is created to the indoor/outdoor lifestyle and fits perfectly on a patio or waterfront deck. The Jet Set Lounge Chair is made of 8 decks with neoprene cushions on a metal frame. Dimensions: 32"x32"x65"

Nice stuff...]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Super-Creative-Skateboard-Furniture Thorough Home Theatre Construction Howto
One of the more interesting things in this piece is how the author used the hard paper columns that builders use to pour concrete along with some marble paint to create some faux marble columns for $20. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Thorough-Home-Theatre-Construction-Howto Unusual Wall Treatment
From the site:

This design can be applied to just one wall and can completely alter the focus of the room. In just a few hours Wallter adds life to walls. The effect can either be stunning or subtle, you decide. For easy, no fuss installation these lightweight pieces have a peel-away 3M adhesive backing. The applications can be applied to almost any interior wall or door.

Via Constructiondeal.com]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Unusual-Wall-Treatment Huge Gallery of Home Decorating Ideas Sunset magazine has a lot of cool stuff on their site, not the least of which being this huge home decorating idea gallery, viewable by room type (within kitchens, for example, there are small kitchens, eat in kitchens, etc) or style (contemporary, retro, exotic, etc). There must be thousands of beautiful room images online to serve as inspiration for those of us that tend to know what we like when we see it, but can't come up with much from scratch - or perhaps the gallery is most useful for those just suffering from some sort of temporary design block.

The site also has this 25 item smart home piece, as well as an interesting before and after gallery.

Definitely lots to explore.

Link: Sunset Design Assistant]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Huge-Gallery-of-Home-Decorating-Ideas Wired Article on the Coolest Rooms on Earth Michael Douglas had a hand in designing in the 1980s. Apparently people with money dig LCDs rising from bed foot boards quite a bit - and it's hard to blame them, really.

]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Wired-Article-on-the-Coolest-Rooms-on-Earth Good List of Bathroom Design Tips here are some tips on making the most out of the space you have available to you, including things like where to place the toilet, amount of space required for sinks, showers and baths, as well as storage and safety ideas.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Good-List-of-Bathroom-Design-Tips Space Saving Sofa Converts to Bunk Bed BonBon Trading might be just what you're looking for. The clever design allows the sofa to 'effortlessly' convert to a bunk bed. From the site:

Doc XL a convertible sofa-bunk bed solution with rotating mechanism. Doc is a comfortable divan with slipcovers, which requires a simple gesture and no physical strain to become a practical bunk bed with a safe ladder that is both a support element and a protective barrier. To use the item only as a bed, it is sufficient to remove the back cushions. The item can be converted from bed to furniture piece without having to remove the sheets and blankets, thus offering the possibility to always dispose of a ready to use bed.]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Space-Saving-Sofa-Converts-to-Bunk-Bed Roundup of Online Paint Selector Apps
  • Behr's ColorSmart
    Probably the best paint selector. Paint simulation looks the most realistic. Behr allows searches by paint name or number and automatically coordinates colors to match. Program enables users to paint individual walls. Includes a nice 'Inspiration library'.

  • Benjamin Moore's Personal Color Viewer
    Benjamin Moore's app presents the user with multiple rooms to choose from, as well as the unique selectable specialty finishes. Has a standard color slider selector, and is pre-loaded with some color combinations. Not bad, but not great.

  • Sherwin-Williams
    Chose between interior and exterior paint jobs. Multiple room or home types to chose from. The automatic coordinating of color types is nice. Some drag and drop action.

  • Sico Not that dynamic. Allows the change of one entire wall (only) and trim. Gives a good idea of how a room's feel is altered with different paint colors, but could be more functional.

  • Debbie Travis
    Multiple rooms to chose from, but clicking a color changes the one and only dynamic wall in the picture (i.e. user is not able to select individual walls). Very straightforward and too basic.

    ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Roundup-of-Online-Paint-Selector-Apps Useful Flash Room Planner http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Useful-Flash-Room-Planner Great Ask Mefi Home Design Thread post on Ask Mefi caught my eye. Seems like an appropriate enough way to launch the site, no? Lots of great ideas, including:

  • The oft-recommended Hidden Door to a secret room - which would of course necessitate the obligatory Shakespeare Bust switch.

  • These soon (?) to be released Temperature Sensitive and LED enhanced faucets by German based Hansa.

    * Beta, or something. ]]> http://www.househacker.com/permanent/Great-Ask-Mefi-Home-Design-Thread