Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were filled with family, friends and fun.
After a promising start, the winter weather has hit a dry holding pattern in Southwest Colorado (Pagosa Springs and Wolf Creek notwithstanding). While I typically would have gotten in a few days of skiing over the holidays, instead I found some time to check out other building and design blogs for online inspiration.
Take a look at some of the gems I stumbled upon:
Big things come in little packages: Tinyhouseblog.com is a treasure of small homes, vacation getaways and all small spaces, in general. From tow-behind cabins to decorating and living tips, Tinyhouseblog proves that small spaces can inspire big ideas and big living. They hooked me with the Outdoor Research sponsored ski-touring trailer, but they sold me with an entire section dedicated to small timber frames.
Photo of pull-behind home, courtesy of tinyhouseblog.com
Restoring Former Glory: TheBarnJournal.org doesn’t go for the flash factor, but it is a captivating gathering place for lovers of old barns. The stories of renovations and historical perspectives are a rallying cry for Americana and preservation. To an old-timber junkie like me, this site reaffirms my commitment to restore what can be restored and repurpose what cannot.
Photo courtesy barnjournal.org, via ettc.net.
Contemporary Design: For anyone who enjoys the feel of a timbered structure, but laments the “traditionalist” architecture, timber + Design International is about to prove you wrong. This New Zealand-based magazine specializes in contemporary timber design that melds modern lines with jaw dropping timberwork and site situation.
Photo courtesy of timber+Design Magazine
Never disappoints: Despite the celebrity profiles that sometimes veer a bit off course from the magazine’s primary goal, Architectural Digest consistently delivers beautiful photography and idyllically styled homes. I was pleased to see the variety of timber frame articles from a quick online search.
Photo courtesy of Architectural Digest Magazine
Social Media Meets Home Design: Houzz.com is a mash-up of Wikipedia, FickR and YouTube for interior and exterior design ideas. First, you choose from categories – such as room, exterior or landscape. Then you choose a style preference, like traditional, eclectic or contemporary. Houzz.com pulls up thousands of photos and allows you to create “Idea Books” for your upcoming project.
Enjoy surfing and finding ideas for your home or project. Let’s hope for snow, and be thankful for the Internet in the meantime!
Thanks,
Jared
