Fires inspired these fireshields and their beauty while offering defense from that which ensued. So it went with the Great Fire of London that began one September evening in 1666 in a small bakeshop on Pudding Lane. The fire was finally stopped at the barren spot left by the fire of 1633. The reversal in destiny – fire containing fire – illustrates the providence also in the artwork of these cityscape screens.

The fires of London and Rome stirred the beginnings of this design series by BBM. When fire dances behind the laser-cut COR-TEN steel, the scenes from centuries ago are reenacted, but this time with beauty rather than fear. The shadows through the fireshield and the reactive steel to the heat are as ambiguous as the flames.

Durable and long-lasting COR-TEN oxidizes over its life span and turns from black to shades resembling the orange blazes. This natural process provides protection for the un-oxidized steel beneath its surface. And the fireshield goes on.

For more creative fireplaces, check out these designs by Anne Colombo.

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Unfortunately, however, accessing my collection would then require descending into my landlord’s bedroom. Ah, one can dream.

According to Spiral Cellars, their “watertight, pre-cast cylindrical system” is the “quickest, cheapest and easiest way of building a wine cellar for your house.”

But maybe your circumstances are different. Should you have a severe case of oenophilia and have the means to cure it (i.e. drinking lots and lots of amazing Bordeaux), Spiral Cellars has a bevy of options for your beverage of choice. You’ll also be happy to know that this product depends upon natural insulation in your underground cavern-tavern, so once it’s in, it’s ready.

I can’t deny the appeal of being able to own such a stunning and unique underground wine cellar, but after much deliberation and discussion with my landlord, he suggested I buy my own house. Thanks, Einstein.

Photo Credits: Core77 & Dornob

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Philly Loft or Sweet, Sweet Treasure Chest?

Stephen Loidolt and Shauna Alterio hide away in their 2,300 square-foot one-bedroom and bath Philadelphia loft, aka an old tire factory. Being creative is what they do best, and decorating with second, third or fourth-time-around thrift, antique and Craigslist items are the inspiration for their living space. Stephen and Shauna’s source of pride is the built-in bookshelves they made from old scrap lumber.

The creative couple has two workrooms, both neat, resourceful and yet comfortably shabby-chic. They run their blog and business, Etsy Shop: Something’s Hiding in Here from home. We just love their goofy, laidback style. They buy whatever they love, like rows of vintage globes, maps and an assortment of funny deer figurines.

Funeral Parlor-Turned-Sports HQ

Heading over to the North Side of Chicago, the Extreme Sports brand’s owner lives and runs his headquarters/showroom in this renovated 6,000-square foot ex-funeral parlor and machine shop. Together with his workspace are a dining room and kitchen, study, office and a master bedroom and bath. And in just this one picture are three separate areas to sit, a project taken on by Chicago’s well-known interior design company, Morlen Sinoway.

Web Guru’s Paradise

Sam Rosen parks his bike alongside his books in the two adjoining lofts that he calls home and work. Sam lives with his dog, Eli. He’s a web designer (Sam, not Eli) for clients like Xerox and the University of Chicago, as well as a blogger for the Post Family blog and One Design Company. Sam began his work-from-home habits at the young age of seven. He self-published a book of poetry and debuted it in one of the city’s well-known book stores, selling 20 copies as a result of the book signing.

One Man’s Trash…

For a photographer and event designer, this Greenwich Village townhouse was the couple’s second unusual transformation they were finally able to call “home.” Before they moved in, the disastrous commercial rental space had trash stacked nearly to the top of the 13-foot ceilings. The filthy pileup even covered all the windows. But it was the height of the ceilings, despite the mess, which sold the space immediately. Their first renovation was a Manhattan loft that was formerly a wig factory/bordello.

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#1 - Even the pros at This Old House were impressed with this cozy child’s bedroom alcove by design firm CG&S. The eyebrow dormer was built off-site and hauled to the house piece by piece, rafter by rafter, and then weighted into place. It took over a week to complete. Wow, that’s one lucky kid!

#2 - The black wood floors and exposed beams make this space really pop, but it’s the ladder alongside the huge bookshelf that gives the attic a storybook feel and the task of retrieving that top-shelf tome an adventure unto itself.

#3 - Large, open skylights are the highlight of this amazing attic remodel-turned-sunny art workspace for mom, a home office for dad and a cozy sleepover spot for the kids.

“Remodeling an attic is like building a boat – you have to be creative in utilizing every available inch,” says Seattle architect and magician Gary Epstein, who designed this multi-use space for a family in Redmond, Washington.

#4 - Imagine having your own summer cabin just a few steps above your living room.
This stunning remodel includes a rustic stone hearth, polished stone floors and beautiful wood walls and ceilings. Hard to believe it was ever an attic.

#5 – Lack of square footage and a dramatic pitched roof couldn’t deter these attic remodelers from designing their cozy new bedroom. This remodel is living proof that the ingenuity and imagination of a growing family should not be underestimated.

#6 - Here, cobwebs and dark corners are miraculously transformed into a bright, cheery children’s playroom where the Boogeyman is nowhere in sight. Talk about clearing out the cobwebs.

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The winner, Holger Schubert from Los Angeles, CA, planned his garage with true passion for Maseratis. His goal? To “honor this car as a piece of art.” Through a 1,200-square-foot minimalist design, he surrounded the car with a living area complete with skylight, contemporary furniture, small kitchen, bathroom and a slide-away TV. It’s all about the experience of pulling a Maserati into the garage. And then walking five feet to plop down in front of the flat screen. Men do love their lives.

Holger went one step further and built a ramp inside the garage. It lifts the front end of the car 6 inches so that he can roll out in reverse without pumping fumes into the space.

Click here to check out the lift in action.

Here are a few other designs that, wondrous as they may be, did not make the final cut.

Forget Maserati –this one’s fit for the BatMobile.

And this design incorporates solar power into the design. These panels could produce more than the family’s share of home energy. Plus, there’s grass on the roof.

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So, what are they? How about converting your attic into a giant lush closet, a bathroom or guest room…

Bathroom ideas

I love the use of space in this cottage attic – a gorgeous bathroom full of light. By adding windows, light colored tile and soft hues on the walls, as well as wainscoting, this bathroom blends with the architectural style of the cottage and gives these homeowners a cozy retreat:

This bathroom is very cozy with its white tile and pale blue walls. The owners added a fan dormer window over the shower for light and venting.

Entertainment rooms

These homeowners were incredibly creative. By taking advantage of this additional space, they made a cozy entertainment room and opened the area up by adding skylights and a sliding glass door.

A lot of thought & talent went into this one. They managed to squeeze in a pool table, game table, built-in window seats with pull-out drawers, mini bar with Brazilian slate countertop, plenty of built-in storage and a playhouse for the kids. They also made a vignette for a sofa and big screen TV. The rich hardwood flooring, gorgeous over-head lighting and wainscoting make it seem like it’s been that way forever:

Multi-purpose

This attic conversion was done with impeccable taste. 3 different rooms were created from previously unused space. The office is brightly lit with the use of a gable window and decorative round window. The new bedroom features a fireplace and luxurious bathroom. And the homeowners removed a section of the attic floor – it now opens up over an existing bedroom to create an amazing loft area.

Remember, before converting your attic into living space, talk to your contractor to make sure the floor joists can handle the weight.

Resources & smart ideas:

Attics and Small Additions

Cottage Bathroom Ideas

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The sunroom by itself is a fantastic addition to the home; throw in a few extras and now you really have a sweet room. First, is it a multipurpose room or strictly one dimensional?

If the room is built around a spa or pool, it should be treated as you would your bathroom. That means stocking it with nice soft rugs, aroma scented candles, racks for extra towels, and hooks for bathrobes.

Sunrooms are also great places to keep greenhouse plants and some of your favorite art. If the sunroom is a multipurpose room, try including some of the following items to complete your sunroom décor.

1. Rustic wood beams on the sunroom ceiling. They’ll blend in nicely with wicker furniture and vintage tables.
2. An oak table with a leaf insert. The perfect centerpiece for holidays and special occasions.
3. Matching cabinets for storage of glassware, kitchen items, and family games. This way, breaking out the good china for dinner parties can be done in a snap.



4. Geraniums and other tender plants. The sunroom is the perfect holding area for the winter.
5. What sunroom doesn’t have its own music system? The acoustics are excellent and it provides a great way to relax. Read a book or the newspaper, while listening to your favorite music.
6. The right paint or wallpaper can make the sunroom appear bigger than it really is. Painting with lighter colors opens up the sunroom’s appearance. Also try to have clear path exits to the door. Sometimes smaller sunrooms get cluttered with big furniture.
7. If you have enough space, adding a nice couch to this room is the perfect match. Taking an afternoon snooze with the sunroom windows wide open and little breeze blowing through, there’s nothing better.
8. Having nice rugs under your furniture helps reduce noise and ties the room together. Other accessories like wall hangings and mosaics add charm to the room.
9. What about exercise equipment that can be folded up and placed out of the way? A great way to get more out this room.
10. An aquarium. It will defuse the natural light that comes into the room; plus, it provides an attractive feature for both kids and adults.

Photo credit: Lancaster Home Remodeling

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1. Vacation at Home, Especially with a Cabin-Style Game Room

Photo credit: http://www.alakecabin4u.com/

2. Keep Away the Blues

Photo credit: http://www.allphasepools.com/

3. For a Year-Round Holiday Theme

Photo credit: http://myholidayhomerental.com/

4. You Have the Space, So Make the Room

Photo credit: http://www.costco.com/Home.aspx

5. For Country Coziness at Play

http://www.firesidechalets.com/

6. You’re an Entertainer at Heart

Photo credit: http://www.inclinetahoehomes.com/

7. A Game of Pool Brings Out the Sunny Side in You

Photo credit: http://imagesus.homeaway.com/

8. For the Elegant Simplicity of a Clean Shot

Photo credit: http://www.avalonloghomes.com/

9. There’s No Telling What You Can Do

Photo credit: http://www.floridavacationvillas.org/

Get free estimates from top-notch contractors for your new pool room!

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Of the millions of Baby Boomers now in their late 50s and early 60s, many of them are in-laws, with both adult children and aging parents comprising their in-law groups. When you consider all these in-law relationships enriching the lives of at least three generations, add to the mix the challenges of today’s economy, longer life expectation, and the high cost of health care, you have the perfect recipe for more in-law apartments.

An in-law apartment provides separate living arrangements on your property. The expanded definition, featured in an article on the topic on RealEstate.com, says that although in-law apartments vary according to individual circumstances, they do share common characteristics:

• A separate entrance
• Its own kitchen
• A private bathroom
• A personal living area

From Single-Family Home to Two-Family Home

In-law apartments are often not a part of the original floor plan of a home. They can be added on in a variety of ways: above a detached garage, on the second floor of a home, as a first-floor addition, in the basement, or as a guesthouse. Restrictions, codes, and permits are generally required for these in-law additions, and they vary from place to place.

An article on LJWorld.com says, “Designing space for an in-law apartment isn’t always easy, especially when the space is being added onto an existing home or into a basement. Local zoning regulations can make adding in-law space difficult, out of fear that homeowners are trying to create an apartment as a rental unit or turn a single-family home into a two-family home.

“Leigh Overland, a Danbury, CT., architect, predicted that zoning officials everywhere will be forced to review the issue in coming years, as the baby boom generation grows older. ‘In-law apartments have become very popular,’ Overland said. ‘It is becoming and will become a more sought-after renovation and addition, especially when the economy pushes people toward downsizing and, more importantly, as more families realize the importance of living together.’”

A Growing Trend with the Potential to Lower Assisted Living Costs

This growing trend and desirability of in-law apartments has been on the rise for some time. A 2007 article on the topic on CNNMoney said, “With the leading edge of the 76 million baby boomers now turning 60, the number of Americans ‘aging in place’ will balloon over the next few decades. By 2030, there will be 70 million seniors. Between now and then, the number of seniors requiring some living assistance will expand as well. According to MetLife, the national average base rate in 2006 for an assisted living facility was $2,968 per month, or $35,616 a year. That’s up 17.6% from 2004. The longer your mother-in-law can comfortably age in place, the longer she can put off paying those big expenses.”

Consumer Health Ratings indicates that a MetLife survey for 2008 shows that annual costs for assisted living average out at over $36,000, and that these costs can increase dramatically, depending on the type of care needed.

Many homeowners with in-laws are seeing the economy of defraying the cost of assisted living expenses by adding an in-law apartment, and want the familial benefits of being close to loved ones as well. For the oldsters, having an independent living space in close proximity to younger family members is probably universally preferable to moving into an assisted care facility.
As an investment in the value of the home itself, the addition of an in-law apartment is likely to be a good one. It’s definitely worth exploring the regulations currently in place in your area for in-law additions and following the changes in your local zoning board’s rules as the growing need for in-law housing makes itself apparent.

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It always amazes me how people can take a simple idea like building a glass room and make so many variations on that same premise to come up with an astounding number of stylish choices. One of my favorite designs for a sunroom is the conservatory style, which has many angled glass sides and a conic glass roof. It’s very Southern classic, in my view, and creates a unique and elegant look. There’s no limit to the functions that can take place in a room like this, especially since you can capture the sun all day long and get a great view of the constellations at night.

The double-pitched sunroom always reminds me of a greenhouse, but that’s not a bad thing. In fact, I have a sort-of obsession about plants and often find myself growing a jungle in my home. The double-pitched sunroom is like the conservatory in that the roof, like the walls, are primarily glass, giving you more direct sunlight during the daytime. These sunrooms are usually square or rectangular in shape – very simple and classic looking.

Another impressive addition is the patio room, which is basically a sunroom, only it’s made to look more like any other part of your home from the outside, just with more glass. You can use this room in pretty much anyway, but they make awesome Jacuzzi rooms, home offices, and relaxation chambers.

OK, now this is something new to me, but it looks so wonderful and unique that I wanted to show you, too. They are called glass curtain walls. Basically you replace one wall in your home with a glass curtain, so that you gain natural light during the day and add a world of class to the look of your home’s exterior. The roof atop will remain your regular roof, like over the rest of your home, and luckily they make these with self-cleaning glass so that you get a clear view all year round with very little maintenance. (If you’re clicking over to this site, definitely think of me when you look at that curved glass curtain on the house in the snowy mountains – wonder how many articles I’d have to write to get me one of those!)

Lastly, although not a sunroom style in itself, polycarbonate sheet is a material that can be used in the building of sunrooms. It can be used for any glass structure and is highly durable – virtually unbreakable and impact resistant. This is great if you live in a golf course community, have kids or even a rowdy newspaper boy. Polycarbonate can be formed in arches or curves or angles and comes in a few different colors depending on the amount of direct sunlight you want to penetrate into your sunroom.

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