How to Design a Futuristic House
Just what defines a "Futuristic House" remains debatable. So much changes in western design concepts so quickly, and so many notions in the past about what the "home of the future" might look like have proven wrong, that it is difficult to say just what a "futuristic" home might look like to you. But there are some concepts about futuristic housing that you can use as you explore your home designs. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Decide if "futuristic" means "high technology," or "natural" to you. A high tech futuristic home may look like something out of Star Trek, with omniscient computer controls. Or, it could look like a beautiful, balanced Zen space designed to give the resident a break from a highly technological world. So determine which direction you want to go, or try to balance these two forces under one roof.
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Plan for time-saving features. Include technology that eliminates unfulfilling "chores" around the house. Time savers can include more handy and accessible laundry centers located near bedrooms, in-wall vacuum systems or the use of robot vacuums, self-cleaning ovens and shower stalls, and low-maintenance floor coverings like tile and laminates.
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Design for renewable energy sources. There is no doubt that "green" is futuristic. Commit to using solar panels wherever you can to power everything from water heaters, to radiant heat bathroom floors, to closet lights. Turbine or wind power is also coming into vogue. Heat pumps and rooftop "swamp coolers" are also more affordable and attractive alternatives to furnaces and air conditioners. Investigate the possibilities for getting--at least partially--"off the grid."
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Investigate energy and resource conservation measures too. Insulation is futuristic. Really smart thermostats, ones that can be controlled from a cell phone, are also futuristic. Water heaters and furnaces are becoming smaller and more efficient too with "on demand" no-tank hot water heating systems taking the lead in futuristic home designs.
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Look into green decorating materials to find the wave of the future in interior design. Renewable materials like bamboo work well on floors, walls and in cabinetry. Stained and polished concrete floors require less maintenance and cause fewer health problems, than wall-to-wall carpeting. One of the great breakthroughs in futuristic green décor are LED lights, which use far less electricity than standard incandescent lamps.
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Keep major furniture items very simple and decorate with quality accessories instead. Changing the accent pillows on the couch is far less wasteful and expensive than changing the couch. Keep knickknacks that have no real artistic value to a minimum; not only does the "clean look" refresh the mind but saves time on dusting too.
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Think "warm." While a futuristic house may be made of glass and stainless steel, it can still be a warm, nurturing space for the residents inside. Warm up your "House of the Future" with colors, textures, living creatures like plants and pets, plenty of natural sunlight and lively, interesting people.
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References
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- Photo Credit path to the future image by Joy Fera from Fotolia.com
