Thursday, September 29, 2011

Posh Pad

N18
Courtesy UK Style Semi-Detached House by snaillad
British Suburbs - (BTT) Ah, suburbia. Finding that perfect middle ground between the density of the city and the spaciousness of the country, the owners of this 1940's home are certainly living the life. The inside is even more stunning than the outside and features a living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and a nursery.

Stick in the Mud

Lego: Victorian on Mud Heap
Courtesy Victorian on Mud Heap by !snap!
Northeastern United States - (BTT) It's going to take more than a mop to get this Victorian Stick Style house cleaned up, but will it ever be worth it in the end! The amount of detail is simply staggering, from the railings on the porch to the tips of the steeply pitched gable roof, making it impossible to take in everything at once. Best to just take a seat and enjoy the view for a while.

Breaking character for a moment, you really need to experience this photo at a larger size than is shown above to see just how breathtaking it is - please visit Mike's flickr page and prepare to have your mind blown.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Desserts Deserted

Courtesy Abandoned Cafe by Sabby M.
Forgotten Lane - (BTT) Nothing lasts forever, and those in the restaurant business know this better than most - they say more than half will close in their first three years.  You may have to go elsewhere to get a cup of coffee and a decent piece of pie now, but there is something strangely appealing watching this former cafe slowly decaying as the years tick by.

Monday, September 26, 2011

House of Blue

First Lego House (Front)
Courtesy First Lego House by iFlake
Row House Road - (BTT) Familiar yet unique, this little townhouse is big on charm. Featuring a fully decorated interior, including an especially spacious kitchen on the second floor, no detail has been overlooked.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

A Splash of Color

Courtesy Lego Modular House by Skreenkiller
Bavaria, Germany - (BTT) Sometimes you just need to make a statement. Not that there is anything wrong with a neutral color palette, but being able to say you live in the bright orange townhouse certainly makes it easier for visitors to find you. The black and tan neighbor and white arcade with balconies above help bring balance to the composition, providing just the right amount of pop without going too far.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

10230 Mini Modulars

Courtesy 10230 Mini Modulars by LEGO

Missed any of the modulars the first time around and don't feel like breaking the bank to get them all? Live in a tiny apartment and just don't have room for such large sets? Either way, LEGO has you covered. Available in January 2012 for VIP Members, this set has miniature versions of the first 5 modulars together in one neat little package.

Big thanks to Rufus at the Eurobricks forums for breaking this news. Join the discussion, see more hi-res pictures, and see how much this will cost you at the Eurobricks topic here.

No Worse for Wear

Courtesy Town by Red_Giant
Well Worn Avenue - (BTT) Sure these buildings have seen better days, but the locals don't seem to mind in the least. With tons of activity on both the front and the back of these three buildings, which include a very popular sports memorabilia store, this neighborhood is as vibrant as ever.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Inspiration of the Day - 9/23/11

Union Terminal, Cincinnati, OH
Courtesy Cincinnati Union Terminal by Robby Virus
Cincinnati, Ohio - (BTT) Completed in 1933 by architects Alfred T. Fellheimer and Steward Wagner (with a little guidance from Paul Cret), this iconic Art Deco train station very nearly suffered the same unfortunate fate as New York's Penn Station before being declared a historic landmark, but not before the bulldozers had already razed most of the train concourse. Thanks in large part to the efforts of Jerry Springer (yes, the one you are thinking of - he was once the mayor of Cincinnati after all), the building is now enjoying a new life as a museum, inspiring lovers of culture (and comics) for many years to come.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Barreling Along

factory barrel 08
Courtesy Barnard's Barrel Factory by j-spears
Industrial Way - (BTT) Storing wine, shooting fish, throwing at pesky plumbers - there really are no limits to what a good barrel can do. Thankfully the folks at Barnard's have you covered, producing the versatile oak and iron vessels to a variety of clients.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Dirty Pool

Modular House
Courtesy Modular House by ArzLan
Far From Prying Eyes - (BTT) This lovely little vacation home has all the necessities, as well as a few luxuries. Although simply detailed, the large windows let in tons of light and open up onto a pool terrace, making it easy to go and take a (skinny) dip.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Inspiration of the Day - 9/16/11

Forest Hills Gardens
Courtesy Forest Hills Gardens by Joe Shlabotnik
Forest Hills Gardens, Queens, New York - (BTT) Yes, you read that right - this is not some sleepy town in Europe but a planned community right in New York City. Architect Grosvenor Atterbury, along with landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., began planning the 142 acre neighborhood around 1908, and just a few years later the streets were in place and landmark buildings like the Forest Hills Inn above were proving that a 10 minute train ride out of Manhattan could transport a person to a completely different world.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Any Way the Wind Blows

Hurricane Irene
Courtesy Hurricane Irene by Blake's Baericks
Atlantic Coast - (BTT) So maybe Hurricane Irene didn't cause quite the destruction as originally feared, thank goodness, but not everyone was able to come away unharmed. This vacation home has nearly been split in two, and based on the wild waves and way the palm trees are getting blown around, there is no real relief in sight.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

A Fistful of Details

town overview
Courtesy 1908 Western by marshal banana
The American West - (BTT) The person who first coined the phrase "This town ain't big enough for the two of us" clearly wasn't residing here at the time - this town is huge! Five distinct buildings make up this street, with a general store and saloon on one side and the sheriff and gun store on the other, each with their own exterior character and interior details.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Mod and Trad

Courtesy Brown and Grey Modulars by alex54
Clermont-Ferrand, France - (BTT) The 1970s brought the world a few things that are probably better left in the past: disco, bell-bottoms, 8-Tracks. Many of the architecture from the era also gets clumped into this category, but this wonderful brown and tan apartment proves that a few architectural gems did manage to see the light. Playing off of the detailing and massing of its more classical blue and white neighbor, this pair proves that new and old can coexist in perfect harmony. Please feel free to join the discussion on these buildings at the Eurobricks forums.

Black and Tan

Citibrick Building 2.0
Courtesy Citibrick Building 2.0 by anupehr
Residential District - (BTT) Having just undergone a bit of a face lift, the Citibrick Building has seen a renewed interest among people in the neighborhood. The high level of contrast on this handsome facade really makes it stand out from the crowd.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Inspiration of the Day - 9/9/11

La Rotonda de Palladio, Vicenza
Courtesy Villa Capra "La Rotunda" by Sebastià Giralt
Vicenza, Italy - (BTT) Despite working exclusively in a relatively small part of Italy, Andrea Palladio is considered the most influential person in the history of Western architecture. Appropriately done in the Palladian Style, Villa Capra, completed after the architect's death around 1590, has possibly influenced the design of more buildings than any other project.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Making Waves

Day at the Docks
Courtesy Day at the Docks by Outer Rim Emperor
Harbor Town, USA - (BTT) Sometimes you just need a little break from the hustle and bustle of city life and take a moment to enjoy the briny smell and soothing sound of the ocean. Feel free to try your luck at catching your own dinner, but know that there is no shame in letting others do the hard work by ordering up a white clam pizza to go.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Pretty, Pretty Dresses

Lady Agatha's Victorian House & Dress Boutique
Courtesy Lady Agatha's Victorian House & Dress Boutique by lgorlando
Historic Main Street - (BTT) For multiple generations, Lady Agatha and her descendants have been providing the locals with the very best in fashion from their American Queen Anne home. Despite the pastel color scheme, the ornate details and pink accents give this building some pop and make it as distinctive as their dresses.

Inspiration of the Day - 9/2/11

'10-05-25 09h 43m 40s National and University Library Turjaska 1 Ljubljana Slovenia.JPG
Courtesy National and University Library by piotrsmolnicki
Ljubljana, Slovenia - (BTT) Architect Jože Plečnik spent much of his life in his home town of Ljubljana, making a lasting impression as both a designer and educator. Completed in 1941, the National and University Library of Slovenia remains the most monumental of his contributions to the city and one of the best examples of his unique style in a time when such Classical ideals were sadly falling out of favor.