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

Link Love round-up: Interior design tips and remodeling ideas for the whole family is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

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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Link love: Reclaimed wood for tables and floors, making radiators look stunning, and more on smart grid tech is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

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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Link love: Ask a contractor about renovating, designing a kitchen “work triangle” and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

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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Link love: UL now testing “green” claims, church become moderist home, and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

• 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.

Post-Earth Day round up of green news is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

“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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Link love: underground house, wine barrels as flooring, and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

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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Link love: timeless vs. trendy design, feng shui basics and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

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!”

Link love: Virtual home design, reading up on self-sufficiency, and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

One of the most beautiful homes…ever
Curbly
Speaking of eye candy, Curbly.com’s DIY Maven calls this house one of the most beautiful she’s ever seen. Great use of windows to really bring the outside in.

Awesome Custom-Printed Window Treatments
CalFinder Blog
Speaking of windows, we’re obvious fans. We’re also kind of fond of these unique window treatments (one of which is shown in the photo at right). A neat way to turn some windows that might otherwise be a bit plain into true works of art — and nice conversation starters.

Here’s a Building That Makes Money Selling Electricity
Home Design Find
Speaking of conversation starters, how about selling electricity back to the grid to make an extra few bucks? This house in France is so green, its owners actually create more energy than they consume, without sacrificing a nice modern aesthetic.

Aren’t you pleased we made the “speaking of” gimmick work for the entire post?

Photo courtesy of the CalFinder blog

Link love: Speaking of neat things we’ve found recently… is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style

25 Biggest Renovating Mistakes
HGTV.com
“From ignoring prep work and safety, to setting unrealistic budgets and selecting the wrong fixtures, this is a fearless exposé of the most common renovation mishaps. Find out how it happens, why people do it and, best of all, how to avoid making these mistakes in your own home.” The list includes everything from the small — excessive use of duct tape and inaccurate measurements — to the big — building a small bathroom and hiring the wrong contractor. Read up to help protect yourself.

Home Star: 5 answers about ‘Cash for Caulkers’
Professional Remodeler
“The Home Star program — or “Cash for Caulkers” as some have dubbed it — could provide a big boost to home energy efficiency through billions in tax credits and other incentives over two years. President Obama came out in favor of the program in December as part of the administration’s plan to drive job creation, but the final approval has to come from Congress.” Written for an audience of builders and remodelers, this article provides a good overview for anyone who’s interested in how “cash for caulkers” might help encourage energy efficiency and help homeowners save some money.

Energy for the future: Smart grid technology
Builder Blog
This introduction to smart grid technology — which generally refers to efforts to add computer and communications technology to the existing electricity grid, making it possible for the grid to operate more efficiently and reliably — is full of links and information about where the technology stands today and the benefits it offers homeowners.

Behind the Scenes of Shipping Container Architecture
Re-Nest
Perhaps you’ve seen photos (like the one here) showing modern, almost futuristic-looking homes, office buildings or other structures using massive shipping containers as the core of the structure. Well, if you’ve ever wondered how container architecture works, where the containers come from, or how they’re modified into livable structures, Re-Nest has some answers for you.

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Link Love: Bang for your buck while remodeling, “cash for caulkers” and more is a post from: MLuxe - Distinctive Home Style