It’s been called a man cave, man space or mantuary. It’s the room every guy needs — a private space where he can hang out with friends and indulge his passions. Whether it’s a home theater perfect for watching football, a private pub or a soundproofed room where he can blast his favorite rock n roll, a well-designed man cave will become a man’s favorite room.
Man caves are becoming so popular that the DIY Network has dedicated an entire series to designing and building Man Caves. Find out more about the Man Caves show on the DIY Network website.
Leigh and Leslie Keno are twin brothers who are antiques experts, frequently seen on the popular Antiques Roadshow television program. On the Traditional Home website, they have provided some valuable tips for homeowners who want to invest in collectibles that will increase in value. These are some of the emerging trends to look for:
Midcentury furniture designed by artisans like Charles and Ray Eames.
Classic furniture from the early 1800s based on designs from ancient Greece and Rome.
Amish quilts from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania made before 1940.
High-end plastic furniture produced under the name Lucite.
Carpets and latch-hook rugs designed by sculptor Alexander Calder (show above).
The ultimate home recycling project is currently nearing completion in Malibu, California. On a lot overlooking the Pacific Ocean, a home is being constructed from the remains of a Boeing 747 jumbo jet. The project was started 3 years ago and will be finished in an estimated 6 months. The jet was purchased for $35,000 from a collection of retired aircraft that were being stored in the California desert. The project is so unique that it required approval from over a dozen government agencies, a process that took 18 months. The 2,000 square foot home is expected to have a final cost of $2 million.
View photos of the nearly-completed house here. This YouTube video shows some of the earliest stages of the construction project:
No matter what your personal design style is, you can use the principles of green decorating to create a more eco-friendly home. Here are a few types for green decorating from HGTV designer Linda Woodrum:
Shop Locally – Look for products that are manufactured near your home. You’ll be supporting the local economy and the items you buy will have required less energy for transport.
Keep the Air Clean – Pay attention to cleaning products and paint — avoid toxic fumes whenever possible.
Look for Eco-Friendly Home Furnishings – Manufacturers have heard the demand for more eco-friendly furniture and carpets. Look for sustainable woods like bamboo and for carpets made from natural fibers and recycled materials.
One of the most frustrating things about working in the kitchen is trying to get a paper towel or turn on the faucet when your hands are dirty. Now a new generation of high-tech gadgets solves this problem with cleverly placed sensors. Automatic touchless gadgets are among the newest and most innovative kitchen accessories.
iTouchless Towel-Matic Paper Towel Dispenser – This handy gadgets detects your hand and dispenses a paper towel, stopping every time exactly at the towel perforation. Runs on 4 D size batteries or with optional adapter.
Touchless Stainless Steel Trashcan – This 13-gallon trash can opens automatically when movement occurs within 6”, then closes after 3 seconds of no movement. Can also be opened manually.
Smart Spout Electronic Faucet – Smart kitchen faucet detects your hands and turns on automatically. The perfect solution when your hands are dirty or when you’re holding a pot or dish. Faucet can also be turned on manually.
If you’d like to give a masculine touch to your home décor, consider leather furniture. Leather will give any room a richer look. The comfort and style provided by leather can’t be matched by vinyl or other synthetic leather substitutes. There’s nothing better at the end of a long day than sinking into a luxurious leather chair. Besides looking good and feeling great, leather is easy to care for and durable.
Leather furniture usually requires a significant investment, so it’s important to buy from a reputable dealer. The softest and most durable type of leather is called top grade (it’s made from the outer layer of the hide). The best finish for top grade leather is called aniline. It brings out the natural beauty of the hide without adding stiffness.
Two of the more popular leather furniture manufacturers are Bari Leather Furniture and American Leather Furniture. Visit the company websites to get an idea about what type of leather furniture is available. Bari Leather sells leather furniture online while American Leather is sold through furniture retailers.
Todd Selby is one of the hottest interior designer bloggers. At TheSelby.com, he displays his photographs of the home environments of creative people. Some of his recent subjects include designers Luis Vuitton, Karl Lagerfeld and Christopher Nemeth. The photographers are accompanied by hand written interviews and original artwork by Selby.
The blog gets about 45,000 visitors a day. There is also a new book with pictures from the blog called The Selby is in Your Place. Selby began his career as a magazine journalist and photographer but soon expanded to blogging for an increased audience. You can see his photographs at TheSelby.com.
For many homeowners, ample square footage is a high priority. Jay Shafer of the Tumbleweed Tiny House Company is trying something different – he lives in a 95 square foot house in Sepastopol, California. Shafer grew up in a 4000 square foot home but decided that his simple lifestyle requires something much smaller. His tiny wooden house features beautiful craftsmanship throughout. Check it out in this YouTube video and find out more at the Tumbleweed Tiny House website…
Apartment dwellers may think that adopting green living habits won’t make a difference, but they are wrong. Every effort in the area of recycling has an impact on overall energy consumption. Here are some tips for recycling in an apartment complex:
In your apartment, separate recyclables such as glass bottles, aluminum cans and paper from other trash (check containers for recycling symbols if you’re not sure).
Locate the recycling station in your complex and drop off your recyclables.
If your complex doesn’t have a recycling program, work with neighbors to get one stared or drop your recyclables off at a community recycling station.
Donate unwanted household items to charities that support resale.
If you’re thinking about garage organization, why not take it to the next level? The Gladiator Garageworks System provides a system of modular components that will let you design a customized space for storage and work. A variety of functional pieces, from workbenches to gearboxes to storage cabinets, can be put together any way you choose. There’s even a matching refrigerator. You can start with one or two pieces and then expand your system later. For complete details, see the Gladiator Garageworks website.
