Jeff Murphy of Murphy & Co. Design meticulously restored a Minnesota barn for comfortable functionality. Inspired by an enthusiasm for historic outbuildings and barns found in mountain regions in the U.S. and Europe, converting this rustic barn into a masculine enclave seemed like the perfect fit. The design called for a classic study and hunting shop that appealed to the homeowner’s love for history as well as the outdoors.

A rusted steel roof over a reclaimed and battered stone exterior gives way to an inviting interior comprised of reclaimed barn boards and timbers with large pieces of Loon Lake flagstone for flooring. A desk alcove in the study is surrounded by large double hung windows and warmed by a large stone fireplace.

The hunting shop includes a track-mounted ceiling hoist for raising deer out of the back of a pickup, an ammo loading workbench, washer and dryer for hunting clothes and a modern-day outhouse.

Marvin wood windows (including double hungs and awning windows) were an easy choice because of the availability of fir to help maintain the authenticity of the exterior. This, along with the sash detailing and the ability to customize without complications, made Marvin the perfect fit for the project.

Images courtesy of Susan Gilmore.

Are you looking for a multi-person seating alternative to the couch? Have a dream of “swimming” in cushions? Do you really love birds? Then this seating option might be for you!

The Giant Birdsnest by O*GE is “a prototype for new and inspiring socializing space, which can be seen as a morph of furniture and playground.” It looks like it could be used as an unusual sleeping space in addition to seating. Think of the great conversations you could have while in this nest!

Would you ever put something like this in your family room?

Image courtesy of O*GE

Are you remodeling a princess-themed bathroom? Or maybe one in Vegas? Well, look no further than this sparkly bathtub by SICIS. It’s made out of glass that l00ks like pink sequins.  A perfect present for the sparkly shoe-lover in your life!

We want to know if the heel of the “shoe” could be used as a water slide into the bath for an extra dash of fun. What do you think of this fun and unusual bath?

Copper and wood are two of nature’s most beautiful materials. Tamasine Osher has used copper piping, along with wood, to create some gorgeous industrial-chic pieces. It’s a very innovative use of a material that might otherwise have been used for scrap! What do you think?

Images courtesy of DigsDigs.

Jim & Theresa’s House on the Venice Canal
Apartment Therapy
“The moment I spotted Jim and Theresa’s home on CA Home + Design online I knew it was unique. To my happy surprise their interior designer Erinn Valencich of Erinn V. Design Group happened to be a recent acquaintance of mine. Welcome to a lovely family home that sits right on the water of the Venice canals.”

Homes with Incredible Backyards
Forbes
Check out this roundup beautiful luxurious yards that Forbes put together.

Designers’ Homes on the Market
Architectural Digest
“To coincide with the April designers’ own homes issue, AD presents a portfolio of seven extraordinary estates for sale, all of which were conceived–and inhabited by–prominent architects and decorators.”

Builders’ Special
Dwell
“A resourceful sound mixer sources some local design talent, rolls up his sleeves, and builds small, green, and affordable in Bozeman, Montana.”

Today, we are pleased to share another winner of the myMarvin Architect’s Challenge. Nils Finne of FINNE Architects in Seattle designed a beautiful cabin located on a wooded waterfront property on Lake Superior. The Eagle Harbor Cabin stands majestically on the northern edge of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Featuring the rocky, ocean-like shoreline of Lake Superior, the wooded three-acre site provides a dramatic backdrop for this 2,000-square-foot cabin.

Cantilevering toward the water with a 40-ft.-long glass wall facing the spectacular beauty of the lake, the cabin is composed of two simple volumes: a large open living/dining/kitchen space with an open timber ceiling structure and a two-story “bedroom tower,” with the kids’ bedroom on the ground floor and the parents’ bedroom stacked above.

The cabin demonstrates a simple, elemental quality utilizing native Michigan hardwoods such as maple and birch. The interior spaces are wood paneled, with exposed framing in the ceiling. The cabinets use PLYBOO, an FSC-certified bamboo product, with mahogany end panels. Other custom touches include a curvilinear maple entry screen, a custom mahogany coffee table and a curvilinear dining table made of mahogany and steel.

The exterior of the cabin is clad in corrugated metal siding, offset by the tall fireplace mass of Montana ledgestone at the east end.

This home also incorporates a number of sustainable building features, including 2×8 construction (40% greater insulation value), generous glass areas for natural lighting and ventilation, large overhangs for sun and snow protection and metal siding for maximum durability. Sustainable interior finish materials include bamboo/plywood cabinets, locally grown maple flooring and birch paneling, linoleum floors and low-VOC paints.

Both Marvin windows and Marvin doors were used in this project.

To see more about the Architect’s Challenge, please go here.

Here’s a kitchen question for you: let’s say that you want to change something in your kitchen, but it can only be one thing. What would it be?

• Replacing your old linoleum countertops with granite or quartz adds instant modernity to your kitchen. But will it make the rest of it look shabby?
• Maybe you’d knock down a wall to connect the kitchen with the living or dining room. This really opens up your home, but without improvements to the kitchen, do you really want to put it in a position to be seen?
• Appliances: New appliances can look great, but if this were your choice, it’s probably because you need things that work better. You’ll definitely get function, but will you choose form too?
• If you dislike your cabinets, you could choose to paint and get new hardware which would probably satisfy your desire for change. But sometimes that’s not enough, and replacing them is necessary. However, its back to the countertop conundrum then: will your gorgeous new cabinets only serve to highlight the parts of your kitchen that you dislike?

What one part of your kitchen would you change? Let us know in the comments!

Ah, the humble shower. It’s the way most of us choose to get clean every day, but it’s usually a pretty simple affair: you stand and the water pours over you. If you wanted to lie or sit down in the shower, you would end up with a face full of water and would probably end up just choosing to take a bath.

Luckily, there’s a (luxurious) solution: Meiré und Meiré, a German company, offers “…a private spa, presenting the architectural inspiration for a tour through water competence.” They even have a solution for anyone who has wanted to lie down and take a relaxing shower.

What do you think? Would you ever want something like this to give you more showering options?

Images courtesy of Meiré und Meiré.

It seems like Japan often leads the way when it comes to small but innovative housing. It’s no surprise of course, since this island nation has a large population and often limited land. However, Japan has long been known for its impeccable aesthetics. Combine that with an efficiency obsession and you’ll find that some of the best tiny houses in the world are from Japan.

This house (via Apartment Therapy) is especially cool–squeezed between two highrises, it still manages to have five stories and gardens on every floor. It might not be the most practical house, but it sure is a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city!

Images courtesy of Apartment Therapy.

Over at Architectural Digest, they are featuring some beautiful celebrity kitchens. We recommend checking them all out and imagining how your favorite celebrities whip up gourmet meals, but we have to share the one we loved the most. Feast your eyes on this unusual kitchen:

No, it’s not in a European dungeon — although you probably figured that out from the stainless steel appliances. It’s Gerard Butler’s New York kitchen and it manages to be subtly masculine and cozy at the same. It seems like the sort of kitchen where you might roast a whole pig just as easily as you could boil up some pasta.

During the colder months, this kitchen would be especially nice to warm up in. It’s not the typical light and bright kitchen we’re used to seeing, but it works. We’re jealous of Gerard! You can read more about it here.

What do you think of his kitchen?

Image courtesy of Architectural Digest