Would you turn your house into a billboard?  Adzookie.com is looking for homeowners who are willing to let the company paint ads on their home’s exterior.  The pay off?  If you agree to keep the ads for at least 3 months, they’ll pay the mortgage for every month that the house displays their ads.  After you’ve had enough, they’ll restore the house to its original colors.

To find out more about home billboards, visit the Adzookie website.

For many of the world’s top architects, home becomes a showcase of their personal style.  Architect Michael Graves, known for his post-modern hotel designs at Walt Disney World as well as his line of household objects at Target, has spent the past 30 years transforming a New Jersey warehouse into an elegant home.  He purchased the building in 1974 because it reminded him of a Tuscan barn and completed most of the renovations himself.

One of the most striking rooms in the remodeled warehouse is the library (pictured above).  A glass roof covers the two-story room and floor-to-ceiling bookcases line the walls.  The bookshelves are actually made from fiberboard that has been stained to look like fine wood and pointed PVC pipe has been used to simulated columns between the shelves. 

Read more about Michael Grave’s remodel and see some stunning pictures on the Traditional Home website.

Ever since 1997, the Home and Garden TV network has hosted an annual sweepstakes that gives away a fully furnished, custom built dream home that is valued at more than $1 million.  Starting January 1, viewers are invited to enter the dream house sweepstakes online.  The house is then awarded in a March telecast.

Dream homes of the past have been built in idyllic locations across the U.S.  This year’s Dream Home is a ski lodge located in Stowe Vermont.  In addition to the home and all its furnishings, the prize package includes a 2011 Acadia Denali and $500,000.  Despite the cash prize, most of the past Dream Home winners have been forced to sell their prize home due to tax bills. 

Tour the HGTV Dream Home for 2011 in this YouTube video and read more about it on the HGTV website.

Remodeling a tired-looking bathroom doesn’t have to cost a fortune.  If you make the right choices, a little bit of money can go a long way.  Here are some bathroom remake tips that won’t break the bank:

For more budget-minded bathroom remodel ideas, read Bath Makeovers Under $2000 at the Better Homes and Gardens website.

Some people never outgrow the dream of living in a treehouse. The book New Treehouses of the World, by Pete Nelson, provides a glimpse into the some of the most unusual and creative treehouses from around the world.

Author Pete Nelson is a treehouse expert and owner of TreeHouse Workshop, a Washington company that builds custom treehouses and conducts workshops to help others design and build their own treehouses.

He also operates Treehouse Point, an environmentally-friendly treehouse retreat center.

Learn more about Pete Nelson’s treehouses at the Treehouse Workshop website.

Surveys by fitness professionals have found that most people have a better chance of staying in shape when they have a home gym.  Whether it’s a dedicated fitness room or a corner of a basement, garage or bedroom, a home gym is the most convenient place to work out. 

Here are 5 tips for creating a home gym that will inspire you to work out more:

Visit Home-Designing to see pictures of some inspirational home gym designs.

There’s no reason that you need to sacrifice style or comfort just because you have a pet. Many people have learned how to live with animals and still maintain a beautiful home. The key is in choosing the right materials and furniture, including stain-resistent and washable upholstery and bedding. Many homeowners actually choose upholstery fabrics that are similar in color to their pet in order to limit the visibility of shed hair.

It’s a good idea to forgo carpeting in favor of tile or laminate flooring. Painted concrete is another good flooring option for homes with pets. It’s important to perform regular cleaning task like vacuuming, since pet hair has a tendency to build up on furniture and floors. It’s just as important to bathe your pets regularly and keep them groomed.

Visit the HGTV website for more tips for a chic, pet-friendly home.

If you like to entertain at home, it’s time to survey your abode and evaluate its tech worthiness.  Keeping abreast of the latest entertainment technology can improve your life and is sure to impress your guests.  Here are some suggestions on how to make your home tech worthy.

Log cabin homes are becoming increasingly popular in the mountains of Colorado and Arizona and in other rustic areas.  Homeowners have the options of buying an existing cabin, contracting a custom-built cabin, or taking the do-it-yourself route with a log cabin kit.  The next challenge is decorating the cabin.  The most successful interior designs for log cabins take into account the rustic nature of the cabin itself.   At the same time, you can make the design your own by adding personal touches.

If you’d like to learn more about decorating a log cabin home, you’ll find a wealth of resources on LogHome.com.   You can also take a tour of a beautiful Arizona log cabin in this YouTube video:

Without adding heat, you can make your home feel warmer and cozier by making simple changes to your décor.  Here are a few tips:

1. Add winter fabrics like velvet, flannel and corduroy in deep jewel tones.  This can be done by changing pillows or draperies.

2. Place an afghan or fleece blanket on the back of a sofa to encourage cuddling.

2. If you have a fireplace, move furniture closer to create a cozy feeling.

3. Change art work on the walls to reflect the change of season.  If you like to display family photos, add some that depict winter scenes.

4. Create a warm glow with candles (just remember to use them safely).

Don’t forget to be safe while staying warm.  Be careful when burning candles and make sure you have functioning smoke detectors, then visit the U.S. Fire Administration website for information on fireplace safety.