If you want to add a new and unique touch to your home when remodeling, you may want to consider tiling in an unusual place. In a Networx article by KMS Woodworks you can garner some fresh ideas about spots you may have not considered tiling before such as your foyer, stair risers, or tiling an accent wall. KMS Woodworks, who works with renovators in the Boulder area, said of the accent wall idea (which I personally think is a pretty cool idea): “In lieu of art, how about a wall of artistic mosaic, or some stone’s natural beauty? Not just for floors or bathroom floors, tile can add style and durability to just about anything.

Whether for environmental benefits or for sheer luxury you may want to consider having a digital control shower system installed. Designer Linda Merrill checked in with bathroom designers and remodelers from around the country to talk about this trend. For example, Michele Drenckhahan, a bathroom remodeler from Minneapolis, recommends the Kohler DTV shower. “I have specified the Kohler digital interface because it is clean looking, affordable and easy to use. It also has the ability to con.

When thinking of ways to create a sense of warmth in your home, one of the first obvious choices is changing the wall color. Lee Anne Culpepper, an interior decorator who works with painters in Atlanta, Georgia shares her thoughts on ways the color brown can be used and introduced in your home. For example, Culpepper said that “brown is a relaxing color that helps to promote sleep.” She advises the use of browns in rooms that have a good deal of light and to be sure to use bright accent colors such as hot pink or tangerine for contrast.

Weddings, fundraising galas and corporate functions can be such a drag. I mean, how many times can Bob from accounting crack the same joke? And it's not like you need another plate of "micro-greens with champagne vinaigrette" in your life. The new Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science in Bicentennial Park in Miami has solved this gala hall problem in the most graceful way possible: sharks. Architzer.com reported that the new eco-friendly science museum building will employ some of the finest concrete contractors in Miami to build its central shark tank, which will hold 600,000 gallons of water and the best entertainment that money can buy: live sharks.

I often work from home, and while there are advantages to the telecommuting lifestyle, there are drawbacks as well. Being home can be distracting (as all your "stuff" is there) and interruptions such as kids, or a pet in my case, can really mess up your workflow. SInce I live in a rented studio apartment, calling up a Brooklyn remodeler to add on a separate office is not a realistic option! Fortunately (and surprisingly) there are options. One unusual solution is the archipod. It's a 3 meter insulated sphere that's mostly made of replenishable timber.

Small houses have become increasingly popular over the past few years. From Jay Shafer's tiny Tumbleweed houses to downsized lifestyles, people are gravitating towards simpler ways of living. In Tokyo, Unemori Architects have taken tiny footprint living to the extreme with the "Small House." Measuring only 13 feet wide, the home fits in all the necessities of living in a surprisingly spacious feeling but compact space. Would you want to live in this kind of micro home? If you live in a densely populated city like I do it might make sense.

Bamboo is becoming an increasingly popular building material. From flooring to counter tops, it's being used everywhere and touted as a green super material that helps save forests. But does it live up to the hype? Atlanta contractor and green building consultant Carl Seville says no. Although bamboo is a great green material - it's a fast going grass that's much more sustainable than cutting down old growth trees, it's really just a superficial "band-aid" level solution in the big scheme of things.

If you want to do something really different at your next dinner party, consider switching to the casual elegance of the "Redneck Wine Glass." Interior designer Lee Anne Culpepper recently shared this hilarious DIY project with the community over on Hometalk. To make one, you'll need a Ball Mason Jar and a clear glass candle stick. Just use an adhesive like Loctite Glass Glue to attach the two pieces, and you will have your very own country-style wine glass! Perfect as a gift, these are sure to strike up conversation (and controversy amongst your more formally-minded friends).