When it comes to our houses we always like to either stay abreast of the latest innovations and DIY technologies, or we like to go one better than our neighbours. But just how far are you prepared to go to make your house so unique that it stands out from the rest of the houses in your street?
House with Character
Ever since pictures of the ‘Hitler House’ took sites like Twitter and Facebook by storm, people have been on the lookout for houses that offer a distinctive appearance. If you haven’t heard of the ‘Hitler House’ it was just a run of the mill house on the end of a terrace, with a sloping roof which eerily matched the style of Hitler’s slicked hair, and the dark brown door with is ornate overhang in exactly the right position for his moustache. The picture was seen by comedian Jimmy Carr on Twitter and from then on it became something of a viral phenomenon. Now everyone wants a house like looks like a person.
Stand Out By Not Standing Out
One innovative architect has constructed a house in Michigan that has been labelled the ‘Chameleon House’. It has been given this name because even though it is perched on the top of a hill and should stick out like a sore thumb in the beautiful landscape around Lake Michigan, it doesn’t. The exterior of the house has been clad in a reflective material that not only reflects the light, but appears to absorb the light and the colour of its surroundings, allowing the house to blend in with the natural landscape. It certainly makes a change from pebbledash and stone cladding.
A Room with a View
According to the latest property programmes we are being told that it is becoming increasingly difficult for a young person to move out of the family home and start a new life for themselves in their own property. Many people have resorted to building capsule homes at the bottom of the garden for their adult offspring, but can you really see yourself giving up all of your garden space to do this? The Single Hauz could be the answer. This innovative design only has the footprint of a single pillar and can be placed just about anywhere; in essence it is a house on a stick, specifically designed for one person living. So instead of building a granny annex, give her a house on a stick at the bottom of the garden.
Ride the Slide
Do your knees ache every time you climb up and downstairs? Do you long for the days when you slid down the banister every morning to breakfast? There are now companies offing help in designing a purpose build slide to connect your upstairs to your downstairs, whether you want a trapdoor installed in the kids bedroom that connects them straight to the main living area, our you want a slide to run along your existing staircase, both options are available. It will certainly make carrying the laundry downstairs a little easier.
Pick Up Your Things and Go
Moving house has to be one of the most stressful experiences of your life, but the whole trauma of relocating could be about to be made a whole lot easier with a walking house. I kid you not. Containing a kitchen with a wood powered stove, a toilet, bed and living area this six legged pod looks set to revolutionise modern living. It is marketed as being a flood proof house, you just move away from the rising water, very very slowly.
Whether you want a new conservatory, a slide installation or a Hitler moustache there are certainly a number of wacky home improvements that could make your house stand out from the rest… and who knows what the future may hold.