The CHIP House (for “Compact Hyper-Insulated Prototype) was built with the goal of creating a zero-energy home. It exceeded this goal thanks to solar panels that generate three times more energy than it uses. The first thing you notice about the CHIP House is it’s wraparound insulation that preserves the interior temperature of this 750-square foot abode.

The house uses an Xbox Kinect system to allow residents to control lights and appliances by just pointing on them. The Kinect is also used to turn off lights when residents leave a room.

The CHIP house was created by students from Caltech and SCI-Arc. Read more about the house on Gizmag.

Whether you have an outdoor porch, enclosed porch or sunroom, with a few thoughtful touches it can become one of your favorite spaces. Casual furnishings such as wicker chairs and tables or some Adirondack style chairs can help create the perfect atmosphere for relaxing. You don’t have to spend a fortune on new porch furniture – show your personal style by combining pieces from flea markets and big-box retailers. Revive older furniture with a coat of bright paint.

Decide on a design theme, such as beachy or the cottage style shown above, and then carry it throughout the porch with pillows, lamps and accessories. Add an indoor-outdoor rug to anchor the furniture and provide a bright touch of color.

If you have an enclosed porch, make it a year-round retreat by adding a stove or fireplace. Bring the outdoors inside with plenty of potted plants.

Visit the Better Homes and Gardens website for more porch decorating photos and ideas.

Owners of VW buses (also known as campervans) will tell you that it can be a home-away-from-home on wheels.  I traveled all over the United States, Canada and Mexico in VW buses back in the 1960s and 1970s, so I know from experience that most of them don’t have air conditioning and none of them are as fast or comfortable as today’s SUVs and RVs.  However, what they lack in road worthiness they make up for in charm.

When outfitting a VW bus for camping, curtains and a good bed are the first order of business, followed by a small stove, ice chest and storage cabinets.  Over the decades since the VW bus was first introduced, owners have outfitted them with a wide variety of custom furnishings, like the newly refurbished VW campervan shown above. 

You can see a variety of vintage stock and custom VW interiors in this YouTube video.

There is a current trend for lighter woods in furniture and floors.  This means that there is also a corresponding trend for lighter colors on walls.  According to Sunset Magazine, these are 5 paint colors that will go with the lighter wood trend in furnishings:

1. Gold and Apricots

2. Pale Blues

3. Grays

4. Mauves and Lavenders

5. Tans

Because these colors are light or neutral, they can be coordinated with a wide variety of furnishings and accessories.  For more tips on picking colors for walls, see our earlier post on choosing the perfect paint color for any room.

If you’re interested in modern architecture and design for the home, you may find just what you’re looking for within the covers of Dwell Magazine.  The publication features real people in real homes and provides information about products, home renovations, design events and interesting people in the field of modern home design.  Dwell also covers modern architecture projects in public spaces.

You can get a good feel for the magazine by visiting the Dwell magazine website.  There you’ll find articles and photos as well as videos on modern home design.

Nothing freshens a room like a fresh coat of paint on the walls.  While you probably know which colors you like, you can’t always tell if your favorite color will look good on the walls in your home. 

Here are a few tips for choosing a paint color for a room:

Paint samples are a great way to test paint colors before you invest in several gallons of paint.  Once you’ve decided on a color, see our tips on how to paint a room for your next steps.

The owners of this home in Berkeley, California have made a commitment to green technology and repurposed materials.  The upper walls of the home are made from over 100 salvaged car roofs that have been cut into long tiles and fitted in place. 

Other unique features of the home, which was designed by Wanaselja Architecture include poplar bark shingles on the ground floor that were made from scraps from North Carolina furniture makers. Wood furnishing inside the home are made from locally salvaged wood.

Read more about this eco-friendly home on Gizmag.

The most expensive home in the U.S. was recently on the market and its sale is the subject of a new HGTV reality show.  “Selling Spelling Manor” tells the tale of Candy Spelling’s decision to downsize by putting her 57,000-square mansion on the market and commissioning a 16,000 foot penthouse condo at the top of a Century City skyscraper. 

Candy is the widow of Aaron Spelling, a TV mogul who produced some of the top shows of the 70s and 80s.  The asking price of the manor was originally $150 million, but Candy accepted an $85 million offer from a 22-year-old British heiress named Petra Ecclestone.  The house was on the market for at least two years – even the most expensive homes have seen a recent drop in prices.

You can take a virtual tour of the amazing Spelling estate by watching this YouTube video.

If you’re thinking about moving because your house is feeling cramped, you may be able to find a solution by looking up.  There could be hidden potential in your home’s attic.  Don’t let ducts, insulation and rafters intimidate you. By working with an architect or contractor and taking advantage of every bit of free space (including low clearances and angular spaces), you can repurpose your attic and create new space for living.  Since plumbing in your attic may be limited, a playroom or office may be a better choice than a bedroom suite.

For tips that will help you decide if you attic is a good candidate for attic remodeling, check out this article on the Better Homes and Gardens website.

The Boston Globe recently profiled some of the top interior design trends for 2012, based on new furniture and fabrics being shown at the Boston Design Center.  One of the top trends is a royal color – purple.  While some people may think that purple is an eccentric choice for home design, it’s actually a versatile choice.  Because it’s a combination of blue and red, it can be combined with almost any other color.  It also works well with neutrals like white and gray.

For more information about decorating with purple, visit the Boston Globe website.