Unusual dwellings people call "home"
Make Home A Haven takes you on a tour of some unique and unusual homes. Check it out.
Let's kick things off in a small town called Olalla, Washington. This storybook cottage looks like it's right out of a fairy tale. I love the high peaked and wavy roofline. Hansel and Gretel would probably fit in here, but this place is no fantasyland, it's home to a single owner who runs it as a bed and breakfast. There are 5 stone fireplaces, custom ceilings and unique woodwork everywhere. The sprawling structure sits on 7 and ½ acres where you'll find a 1000-year-old tree that was hollowed out and turned into a tree house. If you want to pay a visit, spend a night or even book your wedding; just check out their website. http://storybookcottageinn.com/Home.html
If storybook isn't your style how does an actual tree house sound? It's really more of a tree room, a round single room structure beautifully designed by architect Tom Chudleigh. Spherical rooms hang from trees by a web of ropes that suspend them like pendants. They really have to be seen to be believed. Use it as a guest room or as an office. www.freespiritspheres.com
There's a 13 foot wide house in New Orleans that at first glance resembles an alligator with its mouth open (www.buildingstudio.net ). The fun and functional structure was built in order to help some Katrina refugees, but it got our attention because it also looks like a work of art. Inside the 872 square foot, two-bedroom, bath-and-a-half home there is actually lots of room and light. One of the bedrooms even has a rolling wall that opens it up to the rest of the house, giving it more of a loft like feeling.
Imagine living in a life size sculpture. Well, that was one family's dream and thanks to architect Tim Bjella, www.bjella.com that dream came true. This Minnesota mansion is 20,000 square feet and has 4 master suites. I love the sweeping lines and rounded walls because it gives this home an indelible feeling.
Every home we've talked about so far has one thing in common, they're all above ground, but these next two homes are out of site. Literally.
A semi-underground home dubbed the OUTrial house in Poland http://kwkpromes.pl/ is carved out of a hilliside and it even has a grass roof.
So now that we've seen that underground doesn't mean covered in dirt with no design, here's a look at another truly unusual down-under home, thanks to architect SeARCH and CMA and design by Bjarne Mastenbroek and Christian Muller. it's located in the Swiss village of Vals. It has an elliptical opening that spills out onto a beautiful outdoor patio with breathtaking views. This place is actually for rent, www.villavals.ch . It's such a cool haven, you should take a closer look in this week's episode. We hope you enjoyed these unique takes on home-sweet-home. See you next time on Make Home A Haven.
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