Monday Inspiration: Sustainable tree house

(source)

This house was designed by Robert Harvey Oshatz- whose website you check out here. It's certainly dreamy - like Swiss family Robinson meets star trek- (I mean that in a good way). Maybe it's funny to love both this style of house and Arts and Crafts style houses- I don't know where the common ground is- perhaps it's in the woodwork- and the overall idea of a designed space. I love the idea of a space that is thought out and planned according to the needs of the inhabitant.

I think even most newly renovated places are not like that- somehow we manage to get the idea that islands that are too big to keep regularly clean are a good idea-(you know, the ones in kitchen magazines that are about the same size as my whole kitchen)- my question is how does that work on a day to day basis- doesn't a whole pile of junk just sit in the middle of the island waiting to be put away?- that's what would happen here anyhow, it may look nice- but it's not really well designed if you know what I mean.

We waited to do any sort of work in our kitchen and bathrooms until we had lived here for a couple of years- so that we'd know how the space works and have an idea of what would work better. And I'm going to make certain choices based on that knowledge- I love the look of those white porcelain apron front sinks- but I have a porcelain sink in my kitchen right now- and it sucks- It can look nice- but I have to bleach it to get it that way- and not set any aluminum pans in it- and clean it thoroughly after every use- which is too high maintenance for me- for a sink.

I love the way well designed houses make the space work, and take the function of an item into consideration- not just the look of it, and if it can be sustainable too- then I'm in serious love!