Passive housing is fast becoming one of the most sought-after types of accommodation as homeowners realize the energy-saving (and indeed bill-reducing) and sustainability potential of this fascinating concept. In a passive house, a steady, comfortable temperature is…
Today’s increasingly popular smart home technologies impress the neighbors and make us marvel at how far innovations have come in the last decade or so. However, these gadgets do more than just provide bragging rights and give…
Smart homes and connected devices have become a part of modern life for many—our homes can relay information to us at any time, no matter where we are, and many common tasks can easily be automated. These…
Outside the temperatures are soaring, and its possible the humidity level in your home may be increasing as well. There are many issues that can manifest themselves due to high humidity in the home, so figuring out…
In this thoroughly modern home by Austin firm Tim Brown Architecture, classic Victorian forms and scale blend seamlessly with contemporary elements to orchestrate an eminently livable inside-to-outside experience for the family it was specifically designed around. Featured…
Featuring 13 residential properties in and around metropolitan Austin, Texas, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin Home Tour 2017 highlights leading-edge architectural projects that have been ideated, designed, and built specifically for the unique needs of the…
For many homeowners, water cost can compromise a large portion of their monthly utility bills. From our colleagues at Ireland-based Nature's Water Ltd., this infographic on water conservation in the home offers an outpouring of information on…
The month of June in the city of Austin, Texas, can be blistering hot, as the sometimes-moderate temperatures of spring yield to an often-oppressive summer climate where the thermometer can climb toward or inch beyond the century mark.…
Handcrafted using naturally-sourced mother of pearl oyster, opale, and abalone shells, the Antolini Shellstone Collection of surface materials reflect a strong affinity with the oceans they originate from. “The Shellstone Collection is the embodiment of extravagance and…
Apple macOS aficionados have long enjoyed seamless data backup and recovery, thanks to the built-in Time Machine software. And when it was time to restore a single file or even an entire Macintosh, going back in time…
This metal-skinned home measures only 850 square feet, yet lives large for the Austin, Texas, family it was designed for. A joint project by the Austin Community Design and Development Center (ACDDC) and Z Works Design Build,…
Part 7 in our curated series on the state of green financing and green building. From: Green Energy Money In this seventh post on green financing and green building, we connect again with our Austin, Texas-based colleagues at…
Metal surfaces have earned a well-deserved reputation as the leading roofing choice on today’s sustainable architecture homefront, and for good reasons. The benefits of these roofs are many, including an extremely long service life, near-zero maintenance, increased…
Making a definitive play on the smart-home turf of Alphabet’s Nest Labs and their Nest Protect smoke alarm, Silicon Valley company Roost has begun shipments of their first Smart Smoke Alarm products, including the RSA-400 and RSA-200.…
Built around the perfect wall design specification originated by Joseph Lstiburek of Building Science Corporation, this home in Texas was featured on the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin Home Tour 2016. Architected by Eric Rauser of Rauser Design…
Prepared by the security consultancy group IFSEC Global through a joint effort with ASSA ABLOY, the “Smart-Home Security Report 2016” eBook is available as a complimentary download in convenient PDF format. Authored by IFSEC Global editor Adam Bannister, the…
There is a perfectly legitimate reason why the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Austin Home Tour 2016 runs a full two days: It is nearly impossible to fully appreciate the depth and design execution perfection of the…
Smart-home conversations just got louder, as Google has announced details around its voice-activated speaker, Google Home—the tech giant’s response to the popular Amazon Echo. Powered by the new Google Assistant service, voice request conversations begin with “OK, Google,”…
Technology touches so many areas of our domestic lives. Our homes are becoming automated, and increasingly filled to the brim with intelligent appliances and accessories. When we’re away, we monitor them with smart cameras, connected alarm systems,…
Italian stone maker Antolini has launched their Exclusive Collection, a unique offering of natural stone surface materials designed to complement today’s modern residential architecture. Among these stone designs—exclusively available through Antolini—is Bronze Amani, a variation that originates…
