This Building’s Plant-Covered Balconies Turn Its Facade Into a Checkerboard
Looking away from the eye-catching checkerboard exterior of the latest design from Vo Trong Nghia Architects is virtually impossible. The Vietnamese firm didn’t construct FPT University’s newest administrative building simply to mesmerize the viewer. In addition to commanding attention and admiration, the structure features artistic placement of greenery to play up its exterior and is also a certified passive design to contribute to the campus’s ongoing sustainability efforts.
Oct 28, 2017
This Spooky Staten Island Mansion Is For Sale
Honestly, the closest we want to come to living in a real-life scary house is having a haunted mansion-inspired bathroom. For that reason, we’ll gladly leave this supposedly spooked out Staten Island manse listing to a less skittish bidder. Just in time for Halloween, this nightmare-inducing abode known as the Kreischer Mansion is up for sale for $2 million, plus $1,233 in monthly taxes (additional costs include: nerves of steel and an affinity for ghosts who may or may not be friendly).
Oct 28, 2017
Google Mapped 31 Spooky Sites Across The Country
Do you typically reserve your usage of Google Maps for finding places to go and things to do that don’t scare the crap out of you? If that describes you, then a) welcome to the fearful fold, fellow reluctant Halloweeners, and b) you probably won’t be mapping any of the locations on this list of 31 haunted places to visit that the search engine has taken painstaking measures to compile.
Oct 26, 2017
Peek Inside This Converted Caboose Tiny House For Sale
Creating a comfortable residence when you have limited space requires sacrifice, ingenuity – and in the case of this train caboose tiny home known as “Side Trak”– an engine to haul it to your desired living location, along with a railroad track that can support its weighty frame. Currently on the market for $51,500, this uniquely converted home is not as spacious or pricey as this $2.
Oct 26, 2017
This Pinecone Shaped Treehouse Hangs Out in the Italian Alps
Around this time of year, people are practically itching to hightail it out of town and hole up in a cozy holiday vacation rental, so it’s only natural that the serene sight of this tiny pine cone-shaped treehouse in the Italian Alps has us ready to say arrivederci to home and board a flight ASAP. Called “Pigna” (“pinecone” in Italian), the treehouse of our childhood dreams is a three-story structure suspended 30 feet above ground.
Oct 22, 2017
This Floating Tent Turns Bodies of Water Into a Campground
If glamour and camping equal glamping, that must mean floating while camping can succinctly be described as flamping, right? Who knows, but that’s our (really weird) attempt at describing The Shoal Tent by Smith Fly, an inflatable floating raft with a tent topper that allows campers to sleep on the water. Obviously, traditional camping rules don’t apply if you’re using this tent.
Oct 22, 2017
These Dog Houses Are Designed by Starchitects
If your dog is a design buff, then here’s a way to cater to their discerning tastes: Blue Cross for Pets teaming up with the Outdoor Arts Foundation and world-renowned photographer Drew Gardner to present a collection of pet furniture from some top architecture firms. The dog-inspired designs will be unveiled at BowWow Haus London, a public fundraiser and exhibit that will display “artistic dog kennels” created by 80 designers, architects, builders, artists and celebrities.
Oct 21, 2017
Instantly Identify Art With This Shazaam-Like App
It's your new digital docent.
Oct 15, 2017
You’d Never Guess This Tiny House Is Made of Cardboard
I never thought I’d see the day when people would aspire to live inside of a cardboard box, but that’s where we are. We’ve officially added this tiny cardboard house in the Netherlands to our list of unexpectedly cushy digs we wouldn’t mind holing up in for the long haul. Known as a Wikkelhouse (“wikkelen” is Dutch for wrapper), this minimalist residence is built from a rotating, house-shaped mold that is encased in 24 layers of corrugated cardboard.
Oct 15, 2017
These Kits Let Kids Build Their Own Furniture – No Allen Wrench Needed
Kids love building things (see: LEGO). Now, they can build their own furniture, too. Seoul design firm G280 Studio sees room for children to express creativity, and the TONITURE furniture line which encourages kids to use their imagination. TONITURE – a colorful combination of the words “toy” and “furniture” – takes its inspiration from Meccano toy kits. With the units, kids can literally construct their own furniture.
Oct 8, 2017
This Fluffy Robot Duster Could Also Entertain Your Cat
Unless you’re a certified germaphobe, you’ve likely dropped the ball on doing housework at one point or another. This furry robot cleaning ball will allow you to keep your hands and floors clean while it does the dirty job of dust busting. As robotic cleaning options go, the multi-functionality and quirky appearance of the Mocoro Robot Cleaning Ball put it a step above the rest.
Oct 8, 2017
You Can Order Glow In the Dark Roses for Halloween
Mother Nature deserves endless credit for producing a variety of vibrant blooms, but we’ve gotta hand it to human inventiveness for these stunning artificially enhanced glow-in-the dark roses that 1-800-Flowers recently debuted. For a limited time, the floral gift retailer is offered an arrangement that includes one dozen fresh Mondial roses that are treated with a light-absorbing glow topping that allows them to glimmer in the darkness.
Oct 7, 2017
Is Your Pet an Art Lover? Here’s an Exhibit Just for Furry Friends
A pet food company in Singapore is offering your furry friends the chance to get in touch with their artistic sides at the world’s first art exhibition for cats and dogs. The featured artists went to great lengths to curate a collection of interactive installations that appeal to the four-legged animals and their humans. The “PAW-sitive: Interactive Art for Pets by Wellness” exhibit commemorates the pet food brand’s 10th anniversary.
Oct 6, 2017
Peek Inside This Chicken Coop Turned Minimalist Artist Studio
Access to customized studio space is every artist’s dream, but the last place we’d expect the next greatest masterpiece to be created is inside of a renovated chicken coop. Berlin design firm Büros für Konstruktivismus helmed this most unexpected structural makeover, and of all the fab chicken coops we’ve seen over the years (yes, there are actually plenty of chic ones to choose from), this chicken coop-turned-studio has to be one of the most stylish.
Oct 1, 2017
This Asterisk-Shaped Shipping Container Home Is Heading for the Desert
By now there’s plenty of evidence that shipping containers can make for some absolutely beautiful residences, but in case you’re not hip to how cool it can actually be to live inside of the bulky structures, have a look-see at this concept shipping container home in Joshua Tree, California and try not to marvel at the modern, sleek renderings.
Sep 30, 2017
IKEA Wants You To Taste Test Its Hydroponic Salad at London Design Week
We’ve seen purveyors of art and clothing successfully attract customers to temporary storefronts, and now farmers are set to enter the pop-up shop arena, courtesy of IKEA’s SPACE10Lab which houses a pop-up vertical farm in Shoreditch, London. Launched during the London Design Festival this week, the LOKAL pop up allows visitors to sample fresh food where it’s being harvested.
Sep 22, 2017
This Real Life Weasley Clock Will Tell You Where Your Family Is
You’re not a true Potterhead until you’ve purchased at least one home décor item that reflects your obsession with the fantasy world of wizardry. Here to help you take your interior design tastes from meh to magical is this delightfully odd Weasley-inspired family clock, which is thisclose to hanging on your living room wall thanks to a Kickstarter campaign that seeks to recreate the wonky timepieces for the masses.
Sep 22, 2017
This Room Divider Turned Bar Is A Small Space Hero
For those of you who have a roommate who doubles as your drinking buddy, we’re willing to bet that you’d get plenty of use out of this room divider that turns into a bar table. Created by Tawainese designer Laurel Hwang, the multi-purpose piece named Plier simultaneously satisfies the need for privacy and socializing. Hwang’s industrial furniture is designed to suit open floor plans and offers an inventive yet stylish way to divide small spaces.
Sep 17, 2017
These Intentionally Impractical Household Objects Will Make You Squirm
There’s something that makes us extremely uneasy about architect Katerina Kamprani’s collection of household objects, but that’s precisely the point. These odd items that comprise The Uncomfortable Series are intentionally designed to entertain and bug the heck of out anyone who values practicality and convenience. The “deliberately inconvenient” series of everyday objects includes dishware, cutlery and watering cans that would encourage us to skip chores.
Sep 16, 2017
This Victorian-Era Fixer Upper in Scotland Is Under $260K
The opportunity to add a “protected historic structure” to your renovation resume has arrived in the form of Chesterhill House, a 5,300-square-foot Tudor Italianate located in Scotland’s countryside. According to Curbed, the unoccupied country home is entertaining offers over £200,000, or around $259,000. With an estimated construction date around 1870, the six-bedroom, five bath-home features a west wing addition that dates between 1893 and 1912.
Sep 3, 2017
There’s a Cabin Hidden On This London Roof
When we think of staying in a cabin, we tend to envision a cozy hideaway in the woods situated far away from the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. But there’s an unusual form—definitely not your idea of the traditional log house—in east London that’s hiding in plain sight on top of a row of artists’ studios, warehouses and event spaces.
Aug 27, 2017
This Heart Shaped Island Comes with a Frank Lloyd Wright House
A piece of prime architectural history is up for sale, and a private island comes with it. Situated on the 11 acre, heart-shaped Petra Island in New York’s Putnam County, luxury real estate concierge Chilton & Chadwick have put the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed property on the market with a $14.92 million price tag.
Aug 5, 2017
You Can Stay In This Owl-Shaped Cabin For Free
If roughing it in the French wilderness sounds like your idea of adventure, then here’s a reason to book your next flight to France tout de suite: the company Refuges Périurbains (peri-urban shelters) is offering visitors a chance to spend a night in one of their owl-shaped cabins for free.
Jul 27, 2017
This Folding Mobile House Builds Itself In 10 Minutes
One company’s forward-thinking design represents a streamlined approach to the concept of “pack up and go.” In an apparent effort to reduce the number of people who lose their minds while moving, UK-based Ten Fold Engineering created a modular folding house that can build and deconstruct itself without the assistance of machinery or manual labor, an incredible feat that can be accomplished in only 10 minutes.
Jul 23, 2017
Historic Italian Villa Cornaro Is On the Market for $45 Million
In the complete opposite direction of budget living, renowned architect Andrea Palladio’s Villa Cornaro is officially on the market. Designated as “one of the most influential buildings in the world” by the New York Times, the sprawling Italian home is the stuff of real estate dreams. In 1551, the villa was designed and ultimately named for Giorgio Cornaro, a member of Italian society’s upper echelon.
Jul 22, 2017
This Artist’s 3D Illusions Have Over 900K Instagram Fans
Leave the average person to their own devices with a pen and pad and they’re bound to create your run-of-the-mill doodle, complete with squiggly lines that lead to nowhere. On the other hand, Cambodian artist and graphic designer Visoth Kakvei utilizes that same simple medium to create intricate illustrations that manage to pull the viewer into the page.
Jul 15, 2017
This Transforming Outdoor Table Is Also a Grill For 8
Expecting the guests at your backyard barbecue to grill their own food would ordinarily be considered a huge faux pas, but when they’re seated at JAG’s innovative table and grill combo, the usual dinner party hosting etiquette no longer applies. The Dallas-based design and manufacturing company’s product is an expert combination of sturdy outdoor patio furniture and a BBQ grill. The multi-purpose table houses a grill at its center and can also be transformed into a fire pit.
Jul 8, 2017
This Former Cabin Is a Now Stunning $4.5 Million Desert Wonderland
Anyone in the market for an eclectic, custom-designed oasis in the desert would do well to consider making a home out of the expansive Mojave Rock Ranch in Joshua Tree, California. For those of us with wallets just a few pennies shy of the $4.5 million asking price, we’ll just have to take a moment to exhale and marvel in unison at the property because it’s a pretty remarkable take on desert living.
Jul 2, 2017
This Bookcase Comes With Its Own Chair
The search for the perfect reading chair that is both a stylish and feng-shui friendly addition to your home library just got a whole lot easier. Enter Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto’s Bookchair, a clever, artistic seating and storage combo wherein the chair fits inconspicuously into a customized, built-in slot on the accompanying bookshelf.
Jul 1, 2017
Iceland’s Buubble Hotel Has Not Just 5, But 5 Million Stars
I can’t count the number of times I’ve been advised against living my life in a bubble. But what about spending the night in one? At Iceland’s Buubble Hotel, guests can experience the upside of intentional isolated living. According to Dwell, the self-proclaimed “5-million star hotel” is situated in a forest a couple of hours outside of Reykjavik and consists of five transparent bubble units.
Jun 18, 2017
Travel the Globe on Foot with Denmark’s Walkable World Map
Exploring the entire world on foot sounds like an impossible feat, especially considering the fact that water covers nearly 71 percent of the Earth’s surface. Even for a mermaid, we’d venture to say that making a trip around the globe without the assistance of modern transportation is asking for a bit much. Luckily though, morphing into a half-human, half-sea creature isn’t necessary to get the exploratory deed done, thanks to this spectacular walkable world map in Denmark.
Jun 11, 2017
A Former Seoul Highway Is Now a Massive Garden
Seoul, South Korea is now home to a green oasis in the middle of the city. The Asian metropolis has become the latest to hop on the urban planning trend of turning overpasses into parks, and the results are vibrant and visually stunning. The project titled Seoullo 7017 represents a huge contribution towards the city’s efforts to make its streets greener and more pedestrian-friendly.
Jun 3, 2017
LAX Opens a New Terminal—But It’s Only for VIPs
For many travelers, simply hearing the word airport induces instant anxiety. However, if you’re among the well-heeled making your way through LAX, there’s a new luxury terminal for VIP travelers that will definitely provide a welcome respite from the typical airport mayhem. Dubbed “The Private Suite,” the exclusive $22 million terminal opened on May 15. It offers the ultimate service for its posh passengers, who can afford to not be stressed out when they travel.
May 21, 2017
Would You Live in a Time Capsule Home?
Homeowners dedicated to keeping the design trends of the past alive have taken their love of all things vintage to an entirely different level. Remaining stuck in the past has never been in style, but the increasing number of buyers interested in living in a time capsule home suggests that a change is on the horizon.
May 6, 2017
Refurbish This: A New Swedish Mall Stocks Only Upcycled Products
When it comes to developing ways to upgrade common thrift store finds, we’ve witnessed items that have seen better days go from drab to fab with a little bit of ingenuity and elbow grease. Now, a ton of those refurbished products have found a home in this Swedish mall that is filled with upcycled goods. Located an hour and a half outside of Stockholm in the city of Eskilstuna, ReTuna Återbruksgalleria, or ReTuna Recycling Galleria, is the ultimate haven for thrifters.
May 5, 2017
Chihuly’s Breathtaking Glass Sculptures Are Now at New York Botanical Garden
The Seattle-based artist responsible for creating some of the world’s most exceptional colored glass sculptures has bestowed his talents upon the New York Botanical Garden for the first time in over a decade. According to Architectural Digest, Dale Chihuly’s vivid display of artistry is helping the city come alive in spring time by way of his CHIHULY show, which showcases more than 20 of his signature captivating glass pieces.
Apr 30, 2017
Don’t Risk It: Think Twice Before Sharing Vacation Pics Online
As much as we love spending time on social media, some of the unexpected burdens it brings kind of make us want to log off permanently. Just kidding – that probably won’t ever happen, but while we’re sharing, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to become so blinded by the likes that we stop prioritizing the need to protect ourselves online.
Apr 29, 2017
A Former Castle in Malibu Gets Rebuilt (With a New $80 Million Price Tag)
Even if the prospect of owning an exceptionally extravagant abode is far from your reality, it’s still fun to peek inside the homes of the extremely rich, particularly if it’s the most expensive property in Malibu’s history. Unoccupied since the Malibu Canyon fire destroyed it in 2007, the manse has undergone a two-year revitalization at the hands of architect and developer Scott Gillen, who paid $9.7 million for the 3.5-acre property in 2015.
Apr 21, 2017
These Apartment-Shaped Planters Are High-Rise Homes For Your Greenery
If you’ve always envisioned yourself as the proud owner a dreamy rooftop garden but lacked the necessary space to execute the idea in real life, these charming apartment-shaped pots for plants might be the next best thing to maintaining a high rise-dwelling, leafy oasis underneath the wide open city sky. Created by Japanese designer Nobuhiro Sato, this collection of uber stylish planters helps to highlight the less-than-obvious structural beauty of abandoned buildings.
Apr 16, 2017
This UFO-Shaped Rocking Chair Is Out of This World
The last thing we tend to think of when we see furniture is an extraterrestrial entity, but this UFO-shaped rocking chair has us seriously reconsidering the way we view seating options. Despite the obvious stigma attached to it, allow us to assure you that this rocking chair doesn’t immediately conjure up images of sleeping babies and knitting grandmas.
Apr 14, 2017
If The World’s Strongest Coffee Won’t Wake You Up, Nothing Will
Soon, we expect to see a drastic increase in the number of high-functioning jittery folks walking around because one company just seriously upped the ante on caffeine consumption. The creators of the South-African based Black Insomnia Coffee touts their product as the strongest coffee on the planet.
Apr 7, 2017
Model Home: Tyra Banks’ Manhattan Apartment Asks $17.5 Million
Up until recently, we had yet to come across a house listing that instantly made us smize, but that was before we learned Tyra Banks is selling her Manhattan apartment. According to Architectural Digest, the supermodel-turned-mogul and mom placed her posh NYC digs on the market for $17.5 million, giving an entirely new and fab meaning to the words “model home.
Apr 6, 2017
Here’s What We’re Loving from Victoria Beckham’s Upcoming Target Collab
Elevating your spring wardrobe just became so much easier, thanks to the recent release of the Victoria Beckham for Target look book. Stealing a glimpse at all the styles before they debut in stores and Target.com on April 9 should definitely put you a few steps ahead in the fashion game.
Mar 25, 2017
Drivers, Changing This Tiny Habit Can Save a Cyclist’s Life
We’re often reminded to practice the utmost caution while driving, but changing the way you open a car door can save bikers’ lives.
Mar 19, 2017
This Shape-Shifting Chair Is a Small Space Lover’s Dream
Is it asking too much for a seating option to be comfortable, stylish and space-saving? Well, that treasured chair that you use as a nightstand might find it challenging to meet those expectations, but this shape-shifting Ollie chair easily hits the mark and does it with some added flair. Whether you’re trying to make the most of a micro apartment or simply enjoy multi-functional furniture, this unique chair is a small space lover’s dream.
Mar 11, 2017
Did You Know? You Can Get Free Coloring Pages From Libraries & Museums
A therapeutic wave of childhood nostalgia just washed over us, and this sudden flashback is all because of The New York Academy of Medicine Library’s #ColorOurCollections social media campaign. Our minds have ventured back to a moment in our childhoods where we had just realized that coloring with crayons was way better than tasting them.
Feb 18, 2017
A 200-Word Essay Could Win You a Gorgeous Catskills Cabin
If conveying your innermost thoughts via the written word isn’t exactly in your wheelhouse, allow us to kindly encourage you to knock the dust off those essay-writing skills you acquired back in the day. Because the only thing that stands between you and some cushy lakeside digs are a mere 200 words. According to Curbed, the owners of this gorgeous Catskills cabin are holding an essay-writing contest with plans to give the Bethel, NY home to whoever comes up with the most convincing words.
Feb 11, 2017
Yves Béhar Designed a Smart Turntable with Brains & Beauty
Attention, audiophiles: Impressing your party guests with your vinyl record collection just got a little bit easier, thanks to Love, a new smart turntable that is Bluetooth and WiFi-compatible and links to your smart phone, headphones, receivers and speakers.
Feb 5, 2017