High-Tech Bins Will Fine People for Not Recycling
Inhabitat
Cleveland has a new solution for reluctant recyclers: “The city’s officials plan to implement a smart recycling bin program city-wide that will fine residents up to $100 for not recycling. The smart bins will eventually cover all 150,000 households and will monitor how many times residents take their recycling bins to the curb. If it is noted that a household isn’t bringing their recyclables out, their regular trash will be sorted through and if more than 10% recyclables are found, they’ll be fined.”

Don’t It Yourself
Curbly
Not every DIY project has a fairytale ending. For anyone who’s relied upon bubble gum and duct tape for a quick fix, these photos are for you.

5 Factors in Kitchen Pricing
Kitchen + Bath Business
Wonder why the final costs of a kitchen remodeling project often differ so greatly from the initial estimate? Here’s a breakdown of where your money goes once the project launches.

5 Ways to Make Colors Pop
Curbly
Here’s some helpful hints from the folks at GE on how to make the colors your home come alive.

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Add Intrigue To Your Home With A Secret Room
Charles and Hudson
“It’s confession time, C&H readers. When I imagine the house of my dreams, there are several must-have features on that list: a claw-footed bathtub, a library with floor-to-ceiling shelves (and a purple velvet chaise, but that’s another story!) AND, *drumroll please*: a secret room! Turns out my fiance and I aren’t the only ones who share in our love of top-secret spaces…”

10 of the Most Cool Glass Staircase Designs
DigsDigs
Great eye candy in these photos. “We all know how cool glass staircases look like. The easiest way to check that out by yourself is to visit some Apple stores that feature them. Although sometimes such staircases also could be found in the residential houses and lofts. There are different models of them from different combinations of glass and other materials. Although any glass staircase could become an unique and eye-catching feature of a house. Here are some design inspirations for you.”

5 Design Ideas for Small Bathrooms
CalFinder blog
Whether you’re looking for ways to make your bathroom more style or more useful, this article should have some good tips for you.

Selecting Kitchen Backsplash Materials
Home Construction and Improvement
“Kitchen backsplashes serve a functional role as well as a major design feature on most modern kitchens. Most backsplashes are built with a durable material that makes kitchen clean up much easier. The wall behind the countertop typically get’s splashed with food, grease and water which highlights the need for a durable surface.”

Photo courtesy of DigsDigs and Chistophe Moinat Design

Tastefully Incorporating Televisions
Houzz.com
Design ideas for placing TVs tastefully. Unfortunately, they can be an eye-sore sometimes. “There are many tasteful ways to incorporate televisions into living rooms, it just takes a little extra planning and foresight. The ultimate solution is to hide it away when not in use, or flush mount it inside the wall or built-in cabinet. Not everyone has the budget for custom solutions, so read on for a mix of good ideas that will have you watching in style.”

We tried it: Using a remote design service
Shelteriffic
“I’ve been intrigued by the idea of “remote” interior design services for some time now, and I recently decided to give it a try. I wanted to get a designer’s reaction to our master bedroom because I was having issues with color and needed help with finishing touches to pull it all together.” Here’s how it went…

Remodeling Rules Have Changed
Charles & Hudson
“The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard has announced that in 2010 remodeling will increase 5% over 2009. This would mark the first increase since 2006. Great news for all of us in the home improvement business. But the key factor to note from this study was not the minor increase but more why people are choosing to remodel.”

4 Cool House Projects for the Whole Gang
CalFinder Blog
“If you prefer a root canal over tackling home improvement projects, then it may be time you take a less conventional approach. How about getting your family or group of best beds to keep you company while lightening your load? Here are some home improvement projects perfect for the whole gang.”

Photo courtesy of Houzz.com and Jacobs Design

Danish Tabletops Made from Leftover Industrial Materials
Re-Nest
“These tabletops by Danish designer Vibeke Fonnesberg Schmidt are made from leftover wood and laminates from the Danish kitchen manufacturer Multiform. The project was carried out at the National Workshops for Arts and Crafts in Copenhagen, and is the second project of its kind from Vibeke.”

Teak Mosaic Tiles Made from Decommissioned Boats
Luxury Housing Trends
Speaking of piecing together reclaimed wood: These beautiful wood floors, called Driftwood Mosaics, “are made from from old-growth teak that is reclaimed from decommissioned boats in China that are more than 100 years old.”

Contemporary Glass Radiators for Central Heating System – Art Glass Radiators
DigsDigs
“Central heating radiators are usually boring and simple but these ones are not only functional but also stylish. The Art Glass Radiators by Tell Me First are designed to be easily fitted into your existing central heating system but also can feature some beautiful pictures on the glass. … All you need are large, high quality photos and you’ll be able to express yourself in your interior even with radiators.”

Smart Grid: 10 Definitions and Why the Grid Should Matter to the Consumer
HomeIntel
“High capital investments and the overall attention and research surrounding smart grid technology have made the push for smart grid quite aggressive. Although the term ‘smart grid’ is frequently used, do we really know what it means? Is it something that the normal consumer should care about? And why should they? In efforts to understand the meaning of smart grid we shall take a brief look at how a mix of companies and government agencies are defining smart grid.”

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Ask a Contractor: Should we renovate all at once, or in steps?
Kathy’s Remodeling Blog
Question: We want to do several upgrades to our house, including the kitchen, the master bathroom and a new deck. Should we have them all done at the same time, or would it be easier on my family to have them done one at a time? Answer: From Alon Toker, president of Mega Builders in Chatsworth, California…

How to Design a Kitchen Work Triangle
Charles and Hudson Kitchens
“When remodeling your kitchen, make sure you consider the kitchen work triangle as a guide to cooking productivity.” Here are some tips on how.

Avoid the Pitfalls of Remodeling in 2010
CalFinder Blog
“While humanity often seems averse to change, everyone likes a beautiful home remodel. It gives a sense of newness, renewed pride, improvement, and progress. But what many don’t know is that so much can go wrong during any phase of the project, especially now in a tough economy and slowly recovering housing market. Here are the 10 pitfalls of remodeling in 2010, and how to steer as clear from them as possible.”

What New Lead-Paint Law Means for Homeowners
WSJ Developments Blog
The Journal has a report on “how professionals who repair or renovate homes and other buildings constructed before 1978 are now required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to adhere to strict lead-safe work practices. … Some contractors, property-management firms and landlords who work on building renovations say they plan to pass the costs of complying with the ruling onto consumers. Those costs range from materials such as lead-testing kits, plastic sheeting and respirators to training and certification.”

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Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Test Green Products
One Project Closer
“UL has been a trusted name for product testing for since 1894. They analyze all kinds of goods ranging from duct mastic to baby car seats. Now, UL is an authoritative resource for measuring green products in the marketplace.” This Q&A post includes a five-minute video with UL’s John Drengenberg, recorded specifically for the bloggers at OPC.

Divine White Interior: Church Remodeled into Modern Home
Dornob
“Some church conversions end up looking like anything but their original function. By using white throughout the stark modern interior of this remodeling project, however, the architects manage to mix both residential minimalism and the classic bright, light and white aspects of an awe-inspiring sanctuary space.” Be sure to click through to check out these photos.

Things You Thought You Could Recycle…But Can’t
DIY Life
“Thankfully, awareness of the environmental need to recycle and shop with reusable tote bags is everywhere. In fact, it’s probably the do-gooder in us all that leads some of us to sort our trash incorrectly — and toss things in the recycling bin that actually can’t be recycled. … Here are some of the items that blur the line for a lots of people. You might think you can recycle these things, but according to the EPA, you actually can’t.”

Best and worst home improvement products
Kathy’s Remodeling Blog
“Are you a fan of Consumer Reports? I am. Totally. The nonprofit company’s integrity and independence remind me of the good old days of journalism. In the May issue of the magazine, CR named the Best and Worst in home fix-it-up products. The winners and losers include…”

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With Earth Day having recently passed by, we wanted to share some of the latest green news from around the Web with you.

• Ecosalon runs through five of the latest and greatest green building materials and household ideas (check out our post about straw houses, one of the building materials mentioned).
• DIY Life takes you through your entire house room by room to see where you can save energy and be more environmentally friendly.
• According to USA Today, the longtime Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval is introducing a green seal to help consumers know which green products have been rigorously tested.
• Re-Nest’s energy saving ideas are simple and practical.
• There are many apps for energy saving! Inhabitat takes you through some of the best.

Image courtesy of circulating on Flickr.

Underground House in Seoul
Dwell
“Architect Byoung Soo Cho’s Earth House is quite possibly one of the classiest dugouts ever built. Set amid peaceful woods and rice fields an hour east of Seoul, Korea, the subterranean structure consists of six tiny unadorned rooms (kitchen, library, two bedrooms, and a bathroom) and a 23-by-23-foot courtyard. Cho describes the house, dedicated to Korean poet Dong-joo Yoon, as a place for self-reflection…”

“Wine Infusion” Hardwood Flooring from Reclaimed Barrels
Luxury Housing Trends
“If you’re a wine enthusiast, why stop at drinking the stuff? You can remodel your home to enjoy hardwood floors made from reclaimed barrels and tanks.” Rich texture and tones, great rustic style from these slabs of repurposed wood.

5 Easy Ways to Go Green this Spring
Curbly
“This spring, forget DIY. It’s time to GIY!! Green building guru John D. Wagner shares with us 5 easy ways to Green It Yourself when faced with this season’s remodeling projects. Here’s the lineup…”

25 Kitchen & Bath Posts You Might Have Missed
Re-Nest
“We’re at the end of March, and that means the end of Kitchen & Bath month. But we’ve had a good run, and featured a ton of great product roundups, tips, and tricks — from the best Energy Star dishwashers to sustainable kitchen flooring, from our favorite bathroom colors to DIY toilet tank hacks and the best bathroom plants. Scroll through the list to see if you missed anything!”

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Design Dilemma: Timeless vs. Trendy
Home Design Find
Here’s some useful design thinking: “Timelessness, not trendiness, makes for sustainable design that need not change from year to year. But does timelessness mean tradition? Can you be timeless but cool and funky at the same time? And what is timelessness, anyway?”

Casa G – Gudmundur Jonsson
Arch Tracker
Eye candy for the day: This stunning house is full of great views, and it puts those views to work. The landscape around the house informs its architecture, with plenty of windows to bring the outside in.

Home Remodeling Trends are Shifting – How Do They Affect You?
Calfinder Blog
The blogger writes, “As times continue to change, so do our homes. Analyzing these changes is Kit Selzer, editor of Better Homes and Gardens, who explains why the kitchen is the new living room, why stainless steel is here to stay, and why remodeling projects are moving forward despite the tough economic times.”

Basic Tips to Feng Shui Your Home
Luxury Housing Trends
We’ve covered feng shui before, with help from About.com’s expert on the subject. If you’d like a shorter, very practical introduction to the art of making your home more livable, check out this post from Luxury Housing Trends, which offers five simple things to try around your house.

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16 Tips from a Design Pro
My Home Ideas
Take note of these portable decorating ideas from designer and style expert Charles Birdsong, including using antiques and old books as a design element, balancing lights and darks, and following the shape of a room or an object within.

Plan Your Dream Space Virtually
Charles and Hudson
FloorPlanner, a free service with a meatier Pro version, lets you lay out a room in a simple two-dimensional setup but view the designs in all their 3D glory. It’s as simple and pointing and clicking, dragging and dropping. Don’t try it if don’t have a good half an hour to burn.

5 Books On Self-Sufficiency In The Home
Re-Nest
Sarah Rae Trover writes: “For the last few weeks, with temperatures finally (though just slightly) above freezing, we’ve had some serious spring fever. Our thoughts have turned away from our indoor chores and all we can think about is digging in the dirt and taking on new outdoor projects to make us more self-sufficient in our living space — anything but the remains of dirty piles of snow. Here’s a few books to tide you over until Spring is in full swing!”

Navigating Today’s Real Estate Market
HomeIntel Blog
If you’re trying to sell your house, this collection of tips should be helpful. There’s plenty of substance in the article, but this quick summary seems to cover the basics: “Think positive, but be realistic. And clean your house!”