">HomeOwnerNut

I recently had a roofing contractor suggest that because I was considering painting my house a dark blue, that I may want to consider blue shingles. Blue. Shingles. On my roof.

Really?

Blue?

And okay, speaking of blue, I once also tiled my kitchen counters in a 2″ blue tile– which looked fabulous, by the way, and just like the Arts & Crafts style I was going for. In the process, however, the contractor who was working on my house at the time suggested that I use a rounded black tile on the lip instead. Blue tile on the top, black tile on the side… no other black in the house mind you, just on the lip, because that’s what he’d seen on special at the Big Box store.

I suggested he remove himself from making any more design decisions about my house and did the lip in matching blue tile, as it should be. But I’m thinking that people who are stressed out with the house building process occasionally listen to people who are best suited for building houses and not picking out paint colors. Which in turn led me to question, how do those truly hideous houses come into existence.

1.) You listened to a contractor who thinks they are a designer. I mean, they build houses all the time so they must know what they are talking about. Right. Right?

You, my friend, are sentenced to the blue roof for 30 to life for that decision. Good luck to you.

2.) You think you are a designer, or know you are not a designer and are just testing out “being creative”. The truth is, there is nothing creative about painting your house purple and orange. You are not on to the next big thing. Its just that no one else does it because it looks horrible.

This isn’t an accidental ugly. This definitely qualifies as an on purpose, and if you live here, you have to take full credit for it.

Side note: These are definitely people who thought they were being creative and failed, as evidenced by the house number placement. I think there is an equal chance that the house number is 5625, or 5265. Not creative. Not functional. Just no.

3.) You just don’t know any better. That color looked so fresh and beachy on the two-inch square paint swatch…

I sympathize. Really, I do. I’ve been stressing over roof colors, trim colors, siding colors, what to color and what not to color, and the end result is anyone’s guess. Here’s the good news for those of you us that just don’t know any better… paint can be painted over.

Bad news… roof shingles can not.

New York’s Center for Architecture is showing fresh urban concepts from renowned architects for the continued development of cities from Budapest to Ahmedabad that have already committed resources to sustainable transport and other green solutions. The concepts are exciting, especially given how many of us live in or near commuter-choked cities or in communities where we’re struggling—despite the shortage of funds—to implement rich ideas for living with the planet instead of against it.

The Our Cities Ourselves exhibition runs through September 11, 2010, but you can look at some of the concepts right here. The guiding principles in the designs are for cities brave enough to support human-powered vehicles, provide access for clean passenger vehicles, and create walking pathways through “local, natural, cultural, social and historical districts.”

Ahmedabad

Welcome to the seventh-largest city in India, Mumbai. Pedestrians and bicyclists have given way to cars, motorized rickshaws and motorbikes. The architect here suggests a cool way to restore paths for bikes and pedestrians.

Mexico City

The city’s Tacubaya district is no longer a safe place for pedestrians and bike riders. This architect suggests creating a pedestrian utopia, with cars channeled away from walkways, bike paths, and bus lanes.

New York

The Big Apple side of the Brooklyn Bridge is like a clogged artery ready to burst. The architects suggest creating bike lanes on the lower level of the bridge and restrict the elevated walkway to …yes, walkers!

Buenos Aires

Great air, my eye. The port district of La Boca is home to squatters and ruin. Architects suggest creating a new port area with tango clubs and cafes–all connected by water taxis, bike lanes, and mass transit.

Budapest

The Pest waterfront and Elisabeth Bridge are a congested nightmare at the edge of the Danube. Architects say it’s time to bury the road and put in trams to a renovated waterfront district.

The Institute of Transportation and Development Policy predicts that 60 percent of the world’s population will live in core cities by 2030. It’s high time we greened up the eyesores and made way for humans.