Vanessa Brunner @Sigrid You're right! They're definitely not in livable mode yet :) Still initial concepts that need some work before they can work for everyday life. But still pretty cool that a 3D printer has the potential to totally reinvent the way we make houses, no?

radiohead25 I had the exact same thought as an earlier commenter - The "thready" home looks like anyone's worst nightmare of a residence. As to 3D printing - it does have huge potential, and will become a revolutionary force in design/building of everything - someday, but not today. Look very closely at the surfaces of today's 3d-printed objects. The surfaces are terrible; ribbed, rough, pitted. The present-day crude methods of building with successive thin layers prevents smooth, even surfaces. It's kind of like the earliest television prototypes with barely recognizable smudgy images. I wouldn't pay 2 dollars for any present-day 3D printers, or for anything they produce. The technology requires considerable refinement and advancement.

Cynthia Gutzmer Pedersen - Licensed Architect Dylan is correct. I've been in the business for over a decade and have used AutoCAD and Revit. I have done both residential and non-residential projects. Without a doubt, CAD makes presenting multiple design options fast - especially in 3D as I do every single day in Revit. I don't think Dylan is trying to say there is any quick substitute for making quality drawings faster, just that the schematic design phase is aided by the ability to quickly copy designs/models and manipulate them. I don't even think Dylan is suggesting that drawing up completely detailed, thought-out drawings is that much faster in CAD either (because at the end of the day, drawing up a detail by hand or in CAD takes time, thinking through details takes time that CAD cannot help with). I have clients every day that are amazed at what we can do with 3D models and how quickly we can manipulate various options before their very eyes.

militarytvgirl Well Dylan is awesome! I had some questions about finding the right architect here in San Diego, and he took the time to explain it to me! If he were down here instead of the Santa Barbara area, we would have used him! Whoever uses Dylan gets a wealth of knowledge and a very personable guy! Dylan, you rock!

Lee Smith that trio of blues and green is exactly the colors i'm working in my livingroom except with gray walls.

bradwill59 Crisp, clean, eclectic, warm and inviting - all the components that make a house a home. Great inspiration - thanks!

yanow bathrooms

yanow how do i locate bathrooms on your site

merrigay Loved these. Does anyone know or have a guess as to the specific colors used on the southwest wall in #11? I'd love to do something similar on my front door.

Sheila Schmitz Merrigay, click on that picture, you'll see a tag for one of those colors; then you can click on the tag for the info!

Emily Hurley My sister opened a cupboard in her basement and an old pin up from the 30's was attached to the inside. :)

pattygirly We found these 31 love letters written by a soldier while he was in Europe in WW1. My brother cut a hole in the plaster and lath wall to add an electrical outlet and found the wall cavity stuffed with these in March 2011. The house was built by the soldier in 1920

slprevost Awesome use of space and materials --- Definitely well done! I don't have a kitchen that is much larger actually! It's only 8 ft. x 8 ft. in a U shape. We've done a number of upgrades to ours and we are just loving it! I do miss a large kitchen, but our goal was to "simplify" and that is what we did! Again, the kitchen featured is ingenious! :)

wallysgirll Woodwork is absolutely gorgeous!! I personally like the floor tile. Great use of space.

Nan Smart/creative/practical/user friendly/inviting/comfortable- perfect. Thanks for sharing!

alexisjmorgan mrsobbs - no, LEED doesn't consider embedded carbon at this time. Indeed, the whole world of Life Cycle Analysis is something that LEED hasn't really gone deep into. Living Building Challenge (an offshoot of LEED) has done much more on this sort of thinking and I'd recommend looking there.

My only comment on the house - aside from the fact that I agree with others - it's very beautiful...is that I would challenge whether ANY house in the world that is 2700 sq.ft (+700) is "sustainable" (unless you have 7+ people living in it). I still believe we need to downsize our lives down to 400-500 sq.ft. per person (ish...though this diminishes with additional people). That will let us all build places like those that we covet in Houzz, Dwell, etc. while also helping to reduce the footprint on this finite planet of ours.

sandy3877 I want to add an out house, and live there year round! You have some very lucky teenagers! Beautiful!!

kathleen MK Where can I get those folding French door(cheap?) for my backyard studio? I'd Like old metal ones like industrial salvage since it's for a studio to house lots of hot things- kilns, torches and Such. Also don't want termite fodder.

steeplearningcurve @ Patty Marshall & Chicago Mosaics. All three of these mosaic back splashes are absolutely beautiful! People congregate in the kitchen at parties... I think a work of art would provoke more conversation than white subway tile. ;) I am working on a 4'x6' stylized waterfall mosaic for a water feature on my deck. It's meditative but time consuming. Seeing your art is motivating me to finish the last section. (Thanks!)

Robert Nebolon Architects I figured out the tile pattern using 4 colors and 3 different tile sizes. I had mid-century Marimekko patterns in mind so I made the grout white (and varied the grout width--up to a half-inch ) to be the white fabric upon which the Marimekko patterns were printed. I call this pattern my "Marimekko" pattern when people ask (which is quite often)

Paint Hog the art should move you emotionally at first site! price and purchasing decisions can be negotiated but the average buyer probably needs to stay within a budget. payment plans are a great solution as is bartering if you feel you have services or expertise that may help them as well. art is an investment so remember it should increase in value as the artist becomes more popular. and you will also own the piece forever, so it's essentially an heirloom that generations will enjoy long after we are gone.

YelloKorner Gallery With everyone having at least 4 walls in their dwelling, it's often the last thing most of us focus on if moving into a new apartment. It's also one of the most naked feelings you can have in your own home with bare walls staring back at you, and not knowing where to begin theme-wise, or budget-wise.

I am happy to have put smiles on the faces of those who have come down to Soho to look around for something for their bare walls, expecting to be lucky to find 1 piece within their budget, and then being totally blown away in being able to pick up several pieces well within their budget and do their whole place!

Art doesn't have to necessarily be expensive to work, and in New York City where everything usually costs much more than one expects, it's great to be still able to pleasantly surprise the jaded every now and then on multiple levels- You can get a taste too if you want, and I'm happy to help and maybe you'll find something you love too!-http://www.yellowkorner.com/

Vanessa Brunner Hi johnandbrett. Thanks for your comments! Actually, if you take a look, there's a bit of counterspace on either side of the stove, both inside and outside of the surround. The area itself is pretty large, which makes it easy for two people to cook at once.

Kathryn Peltier Design @flynne: agreed. I think too much is being made of the term "French Country". The term really relates to elements of style, not what an ACTUAL French country kitchen would look like. I mean, we also call kitchens Victorian, Craftsman, etc. That doesn't mean we have wood burning stoves or gas light fixtures or Gustave Stickley furniture in them. It's a concept, borrowed from many facets of design - not a replication.

mrsobbs True enough Peltier - And having worked in publishing for the past twenty-five years, there's also a certain amount of literary license re: choice of terms (such as French Country) within the author's crafting of a piece.

travisinteriors On bar stools go a rustic look. Reclaimed wood legs and woven basket seats.

travisinteriors Can do same look for chairs if you don't want fabric.

decoenthusiaste Both mock ups work but maneuvering space is just tight here. Have you considered putting a "pop-up" trundle daybed on the long wall opposite the door? Mount TV on the wall to the right of the bathroom door and then put two small scale chairs in the corner. TV can go on a swivel arm for adjusting the view from the bed to the chairs.

Jody Sokol Designs My initial thought was also a hi riser bed with a pop up. It would give you a lot more space.

papasbride After turning off all the lights I open the bedroom shades so I wake to natural light.

anothermagpie Earlier this month I had a sudden and unreasonable craving for a window seat to soak up the morning light, but was still stuck with my grad student's apartment space (and budget)--so I just turned my Ikea Expedit 2x4 bookcase on its side, folded and pinned a spare comforter into a cushion to go on top of it, and backed it up against another bookshelf and directly under my window ledge. Success!

Studio NOO Design this is surprising but not for everyone !

baui I wouldn't even bother to stress out how to clean this house, they obviously don't do cleaning themselves ;) Absolutely not my dream house but I enjoyed the viewing pleasure. Bravo to the couple who executed their very wild imagination :)

veryj Catching bubbles!

noahsmom Angie Jones.....Beautiful dogs! And thanks for saving Sassie. I have 2 rescues that were abused and dumped, and I've always said the dumpers lost the opportunity to have the greatest love given to them. I don't think rescued animals ever forget.

Glenda George New information to help my hubby understand me!

burtieb Jody you make me feel normal :)

Kim Hagan What a cool idea. I can put this cute little door on the big oak tree in my front yard.

eringlory13 Adorable! However, my darn arachnophobia makes me think "ahh, I could never put my hand in there because spiders might be lurking in there."

marsia I like the plants in the kitchen. I have allergies to a lot of stuff, and when we lived in a big city, I brought a lot of potted plants into the house. Instant huge difference in air quality, plus it looked wonderful, and cost little.

John Reling Vanessa thanks for this informative article. Thank you!
http://www.perfectpicturelighting.com/picture-lights-over-200.php

Vanessa Brunner Such a fun story, thanks Becky! I'll admit, my obsession with Nashville first started with the TV show (Deacon Claybourne is just too cute), but the more research I've done, the more I've become convinced that this is should be the next US city I visit!

Jonlyn Nation I've lived in Nashville for 20 years. It encompasses many styles but remains true to its Southern roots. Everyone that visits loves the city. From downtown you can be in the country and enjoy hills and rural beauty in 30 minutes. Come here and you will fall in love!! This is the new IT town!!

Kristie Barnett, The Decorologist Vanessa and Becky, come on down and visit anytime!!! Becky, thank you for the fabulous article - I loved how you explored the diversity of my hometown. It's an awesome place to live. BTW, I got to meet Annie Nozawa tonight at the Houzz event here in town - she did such a great job and was really sweet :)

Cabinets To Go These are all so helpful! Make sure to check out our measuring guide for planning cabinets in your kitchen! It's always helpful to draw everything out to gauge a better view of how it will look. https://www.cabinetstogo.com/measuring-guide-download.html

Dura Supreme Cabinetry Here are a few great ideas for Mullions, Door Styles and cabinet finishes...

alibonelli I just love all the names-too cute!

gschultz I live in Traverse City MI and we have a small city dog park--I was on the committee for creation of it. And it has been a great success the Most Visited Park in town. We have the small dog section and larger dog section and works great for us.

Resource Art & Design Oh, and you've got to find a taller drinks table for between fireplace and sofa. No one wants to be doing calisthenics in order to reach for their cocktail :-}

Dixie Henrie I would LOVE to work in that kitchen. This reno has made it completely charming in every picture provided, including the living room. It's all so full of character. That dining room transformation is stunning! If there's one thing I don't care for it's the grey and white back splash, but I'd live with it. Good job to all involved.

Vanessa Brunner Thanks for your concern @hazeldazel! We've heard a lot about the potential dangers of pallets too, and it's definitely worth doing some research before starting on a DIY project using pallets to determine your own, personal comfort level. Since these chairs are designed to be outdoors only, that certainly helps matters.

From our research, we've found that pallets are treated with heat or chemicals. Per USDA regulations (http://www.aphis.usda.gov/import_export/plants/plant_exports/wpm/wpm_faqs.shtml#7), pallets should have a stamp on them to indicate that. "HT" stands for heat treated, "MB" stands for methyl bromide. Those searching for pallet wood may want to find heat treated wood if they're concerned about chemicals. You can also do this same project with any reclaimed wood you find :)

Ray C. Freeman III, Architect Have just finished chair 4. Mahogany. Small pallet = small chair. 92% original scale. Also, the smaller slats give this particular chair a unique look. Anyone else making any, or am I the only one? Let's see some pics!

avalonbeach Wow Ray what a legend you are and what an achievement. Looks amazing - love it!

Happy days, Joan L., Avalon Beach Australia

DE'COR'EM HOME IMPROVEMENT LLC. I agree Sue...I have done lots of wallpaper in my 30+ years in the trade. If the correct product is used and installed properly, it will last for many years without issue (and can be removed if need be with little fuss). I also like the idea of utilizing that niche' in the kitchen with some sort of sheet pan cabinet. Also, I must say, after a much closer look at the appliances, this job was very well done on this budget (however, if I made a mistake like that with the cabinets, it would be on my dime...not my customer's...after all I'm supposed to be the professional). Regardless...Cudos Sabbe!

4043516883 What is the name of the kitchen tile? It looks like square tile cut in half for the rectangular shape

Patsy Castillo Pamela your chickens are beautiful...Tucson is just to hot for chickens and my neighbors would complain.

1decoratingqueen1 I had chickens in the past for years. During the day, they could roam around my fenced backyard, but when the sun started to go down, they would all go back inside the pen. I went out there every evening and locked the door to keep cats, dogs, and other wildlife from killing my birds. My chicken wire was buried a foot into the ground because dogs will try to dig under the wall to get in. Even with a totally fenced yard, some dogs would climb the chain link fence side and manage to get in. It was necessary to keep a BB gun on-hand to deter them from coming back. Chickens require work, but I really enjoyed them and miss the fresh eggs......planning on building a coop soon once I complete my whole-house remodel.

sowmya_padki Mitsura - hai, konnichiwa! That's all I know.

Vicky Tabcharany I think it's fabulous, he must have had a great time designing it all, and the result is mind blowing. I'd love to live there... But I think I'd add some colors to it

springlering I remodeled my kitchen and removed all the upper wall cupboards, and replaced the lower cabinets with three sets of drawers. Best thing I ever did. Kitchen looks twice as big, and is open and homey.

Dust doesnt have a chance to be a problem since things are constantly in use, and grease hasn't been much of an issue, even with four shelves directly adjacent to the stove.

I find I can fit much more in open shelves and drawers than I could in my old traditional cabinets, and it's marvelous to just reach for what I want without having to dig. It's right in front of me, and I can't tell you how much easier cooking is as a result.

You do have to make a commitment to keep your shelves neat, and have your kitchenware either attractively matched, or (in my case) as deliberately mismatched and colorful as possible.

I think having open shelves has made me a better cook as well. Spices are right under my nose so I use them more frequently, and I have a much better "feel" now for which pots, pans, and other tools do the job and earn their spot on the shelves. Once a year I go through the remainder, and if it hasn't been used in a year, to Goodwill it goes.

In fact, I've whittled myself down to a toaster, an immersion blender (newly purchased and worth it's weight in gold), a hand mixer, three various sized crockpots, and a giant turkey roaster I use to make dogfood every couple of weeks. I've found I don't even need any other small appliances, and what a blessing that has been!

If ever I build another kitchen, I will have ALL open shelving. No drawers, just shallow shelves. I've seen several such kitchens in magazines lately, and they look awesome, and I'd rather use the money saved on cabinetry to do something special or have an awesome orange stove like this homeowner!

Batsaikhan Samdan Nice Kitchen!

Vanessa Brunner Just my two cents, but I'd keep them! As a renter, I love when places have character like this. There are too many bland, boring boxes out there today. Plus, speaking from someone who's sick and tired of scrubbing the stains off a white bathtub in a rented apartment, I'd happily embrace something in a darker shade :)

hadenart4151 I just did two new overhauls on my 70s bathroom and they look great even more terrific with their existing bayberry and blue sinks. In the process I figured out that what the old fixtures need is wallpaper that is stonger in color and pattern than the color of the fixtures. In new contemporary bathrooms, all the fixtures are white and all of the other surfaces are plain and everything has to be hidden (toothbrushes included). In an older bathroom, even when the tinted fixtures are intact, when you paint the wall plain colors all you see are the fixtures and the overall decoration not longer works. You need wallpaper with strong patterns and dramatic designs! You can kind of see what I mean in the original picture, the old shower curtains drapes look ok even though they certainly need replacing due to age, etc. But think of this, wouldn't a wallpaper print like the print of the shower curtains be terrific! Or better wallpaper with zebras, geometric op art like prints, etc. etc. Then the vintage bathroom makes a great statement!! I was lucky in having saved extra wallpaper for my two bathrooms so we just rehung the damaged wallpaper. And for the couple of months before we hing the new wallpaper, the wall were off white and the bathrooms looked terrible. With the wallpaper the fixtures look great. I must admit that we did change out the faucets, and added off the floor custom cabinets that are solid bird's eye maple, no handles or pulls, and put in new countertops..

pepermintpatty Our previous house had a green bathroom, and hubby and I REALLY miss it. It was so soothing and comfortable. We has a combo of white walls and a small printed almost solid looking cottage style wallpaper. We received so many compliments on it. Keep the green, add white and include some wallpaper.good luck