Wham! Pow! Bam! The Animated Home

Screen Shot 2014-10-06 at 7.30.29 AMAdd some toons to give your home a one-two punch of fun

As people gear up for New York Comic Con on October 9, fans are digging out their costumes for the four-day conference dedicated to all things comics, graphic novels, movies, television and more. More than 100,000 people will immerse themselves in a fantasy world for four days, but for some homeowners, the fantasy is a daily reality. In the rooms below, designers and homeowners have provided some comic relief for their interiors.

Good Fences, Good Neighbors — and Good Views

Screen Shot 2014-10-06 at 7.27.19 AMSee-through vertical fencing connects a yard with its surroundings while keeping children and pets safely inside

Good fences make good neighbors, Robert Frost instructed. Good fences can make even better neighbors when they keep the vistas and sight lines open, even as they establish a boundary. The fences below masterfully set property or area limits while maintaining permeability. In place of an imposing, solid mass of wood or stone, these modern constructs allow outsiders visual entry into the space and enable those inside to view the surrounding landscape, maintaining a relationship between outside and in.

While many of the fences here are custom jobs, they demonstrate that materials in a range of prices can be effectively used. The key is the spacing of the verticals. They can be left wide open for border plants to wander through, or placed more tightly to keep children and pets in and deer out. They can be anchored belowground or set into low walls. When done properly, they become a sculptural element all their own, blending style and function.

A secret weapon for winning any negotiation [infographic]

Trying to find the magic formula for winning negotiations?

If you haven’t given anchoring a shot, The Gap Partership created this step-by-step infographic explaining how it’s done, so you can go into your next confrontation more confidently than ever before.

ASecretWeaponforWinninganyNegotiation

Homeownership & America’s Youth [INFOGRAPHIC]

Youth-Homeownership

This Guitarist Will Blow Your Mind [video]

Screen Shot 2014-10-01 at 5.26.14 PMThis guy plays guitar unlike anything you’ve ever seen or heard. What’s even more impressive is that his advanced techniques are more than just for show––they sound amazing. Enjoy Conny Berghäll’s “Revolution.” [pb_vidembed title=”” caption=”” url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9r9ghRna95I” type=”yt” w=”680″ h=”385″]

4 Secrets to a Luxurious Bathroom Look

Screen Shot 2014-10-01 at 5.14.53 PMGive your bathroom a special finish with a few splurges and budget-stretching moves

Ever looked at a beautiful bathroom and wondered what takes its design to the next level? You’re not alone. Many homeowners want to know how some bathrooms get that mysterious designer je ne sais quoi. I’ll let you in on a few secrets. Because the overall material costs are low in a small space like a bathroom, it’s a great place to spurge a little on a few features. But it also helps to know where to spend and where to save. Here are a few of my favorite tricks for getting a nicely finished look for a lower cost.

Working at Home Together (and Apart)

Screen Shot 2014-09-30 at 12.44.45 PMOne is easy. Two, not so much. Here are ways to make room for two to work at home

If you and your partner both work at home, you are part of an ever-expanding number. Personally, I can think of four families who have recently, and rather abruptly, had a spouse join the other in coming home to work.

One of the couples lives in a beautiful four-bedroom lakefront home in which there are separate offices for the wife and husband. She is a real estate agent. Her office is on the main floor in a sunny room in the front of the house, where she has a large desk, bookshelves, filing cabinets and all the tools and accessories you might need or want in an office. The husband was, until a few months, ago primarily on the road. He worked at home only a few hours a month and instead of working in his small and dark office on the lower level, he tended to spread out on the dining room table or the kitchen island.

They were both delighted when he began working at home, and yet it was a big adjustment. Making another workspace for him became a priority when she realized it was stressful having him commandeer the kitchen every single day. While it wasn’t ideal for him, it was preferable to being holed up in “the dungeon,” as he called it. Their solution was as simple as swapping his office in the small, dark bedroom for one in the larger and sunnier guest bedroom overlooking the lake. Now both have spacious, functional and pleasing workspaces that are, most important, separate.

2014 Is The Future Now?

Future-Technology

10 Living Room Touches to Bring to the Bath

Screen Shot 2014-09-25 at 11.40.58 AMGo ahead, borrow those bookshelves. Unexpected elements can boost interest and comfort in your bathroom

When you’re designing a bathroom, there are many decisions to be made — marble or ceramic, shower or tub, vessel or pedestal sink, brass or chrome? The list goes on. Not to stress you out, but there’s yet another design option to consider when designing your bath: the living room.

Stay with me here. By borrowing furniture, lighting, rugs, architectural elements and even plants from the rest of the house, you can add incredible interest to your bathroom. I’m talking an antique chest for linen storage, a crystal chandelier for romantic lighting over the tub or a built-in window seat for relaxing. Borrowing elements is a good way to add a personal touch and set your bath apart from the rest. Here’s are 10 ideas guaranteed to pique your interest.

12 Stylish Kitchen Counters That Seem to Float in Space

Screen Shot 2014-09-25 at 11.38.39 AMTake your culinary zone to new heights with a cantilevered countertop that’s visually appealing and practical

Want your kitchen countertop to be the hero of your new cooking zone rather than relegated to the background? One way to do that is to look beyond the basic block-like counter and incorporate acantilevered, or floating, countertop into your kitchen design instead. Here are 12 cantilevered counters that not only offer showstopping style but also enhance functionality and create the illusion of more space.