Old meets new

Fantastic conversion of an old (looking?) structure that retains the classic exterior with a thoroughly modern interior. Talk about inspiration...

http://www.architect-yourhome.com/gallery.asp?case=17

Natural Pools

Natural pools. Low to no chlorine. Filtration and aeration potentially handled by plant life.



http://www.re-nest.com/re-nest/gardening/23-beautiful-and-sustainable-natural-swimming-pools-062050

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/natural-swimming-pools-460908

Finnish Fireplaces

http://www.woodmasonry.com/pages/whatis.html

Highly effecient and ornamental at the same time. The firebox is placed within a chamber that forces the exhuast gasses to flow through winding channels of thermal mass. The heat is stored in the thermal mass and then radiated out even after the fire has stopped burning.

Expensive, but they can look very nice and they can potentially meet (or exceed?) effeciency numbers for even catalytic burn fireplaces.

2000+ sqft, SIPS, modern design and under 35k??

http://www.greenmodernkits.com/r1.htm

Rain Gardens

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/02/AR2008070200900.html

Cooking via induction

http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/03/technology/power_induction.moneymag/index.htm?section=money_realestate

Works great for recharging electronics, looks like it has other interesting purposes as well.

The end of an era

Well that was short lived. After taking a closer look at land costs, architectural fees, and material costs I decided that trying to build anything within 60 miles of where I work would require a few more decade's worth of savings. And that's taking into account the moderate price drops we've seen as a result of the myriad issues in the US housing markets. I'd still like to pursue this, but it would have to be somewhere else in the country. I have no immediate plans for moving, so I've taken nearly all of my house fund and put it into the markets.