chaos amoeba's Profile

and I would love to be a polymath. =/

I'm not entirely convinced this will catch on. If the goal is to ditch the key, several keyless entry options already exist including number pads, biometrics, and (if we're just ditching metal keys) RF keys (or the more common version -- let's just go through the garage).

I haven't seen much popular adoption of the first two, so I'm unconvinced by the cellphone option. There are slight differences, of course, between each -- with the first two being much better for people without cellphones (and doesn't require you to take anything with you when you go out), and the phone option offering the "send a key" option.

If anything, I don't think a long-term cellphone key solution would involve bluetooth. Instead, it makes much more sense to have a deadbolt connected to a wireless network, and an app that lets you open/close/check whether your door is opened/closed/locked remotely. Then add an app that lets you do these things. Finally require a password/biometric scan on the phone in order to open/close/lock the door. Then you're set. If a friend wanted to get into your house and you weren't there -- they could just call you and you could unlock it remotely.

Alternatively, a catastrophic hard drive failure in which you lose all your data is also nice (and I am serious). It's painful once this happens, but then you move on and begin to live in the electronic moment and worry less about the sanctity of your data. I'm not saying that it's not useful to keep the data, but after I lost my middle school English report, I realized that I was never going to use it (or look at it) anyway.

As a bit of an aside -- regarding testing for lead paint, is the recommended alternative using those lead testing kits at home improvement stores?

Funnily enough, my "media console" is also made from cinder blocks and plywood...

It's one of those just-until-we-get-a-real-one solutions that has lasted for almost three years now.

It should go without saying that in these "modern" times, different people have different needs and preferences.

Even though many people don't watch TV, four out of the eight apartments included actually do have a TV. Admittedly most of the apartments don't have a dedicated work area (although I would argue the sewing "room" in one of them could easily be turned into a computer work space); however, four out of the eight apartments included actually have a laptop visible in the photographs. Three of these places feature both televisions and laptops.

It's all well and good to believe that these apartments don't suit your particular modern lifestyle; however, it's hard to claim that they fall short of some archetypal modern lifestyle.

My old designs for a tree house involve a secret entrance that required you not only to jump into a hole in the ground, but then proceeded through a (completely clear) glass hallway (including floor) that went over what appeared to be spike traps, then through an aquarium filled with sharks.

I would probably replace the faux spike traps and sharks, but I could see it being a good secret passage.

I also want an indoor room with grass and some sort of light that can proxy as the sun. Yes, an indoor-outdoor room (but I have allergies -- so hey!).

I bought my house without seeing it in person (but in pictures). I trusted my real estate agent, however (close friend of a relative), and I had seen houses with him before. Except for the radiator pipe that burst, it worked out well (and I mean this genuinely)!

Concur that you'll want additional support: gate leg or fold down legs are options. The last potential option is a pull-out legs. However, I think the fold down are the best bet.

If you go w/Ana White's plans, consider adding locking hinges to the fold down legs -- this will also help to reduce the vibration of your table.

I'll throw out a contradictory style -- because I'm like that.

I generally love wooden walls with a warm industrial style. I can imagine a table with metal legs facing out towards the hallway. Since you're an academic, I would suggest that -- on the wall behind where the pink chair currently is, you put up a chalkboard. (Honestly, a whiteboard is much more convenient for work, but the chalkboard does look nicer!). It would be a great place to jot down ideas.

A metal bookshelf / filing solution could be placed against the wall with the brick. I would say it's an open book shelf that you deliberately do not center around the brick -- letting the brick add a nice asymmetric design element.

A leather chaise on the opposite wall, maybe with a small end-table can serve as your reading "nook."

A few comfortable chairs and a small round table in the center of the room can host guests. These chairs can be pulled up to the table for "formal" meetings -- but more likely, you can pull your chair to the round table for more collaborative work.

I would go with a combination of grey and white Flor tiles in a somewhat erratic pattern for ground covering.