Homes and Hues

Now, That's a Tiny ApartmentWhen you think of a tiny home, you often think of a standalone unit where you spend a lot of time outdoors, like an RV or camper that's permanent enough to build a porch or patio. This is not that. A Greenwich Village apartment that's a total of 77 square feet keeps going viral because it's so tiny. At seven feet wide and 11 feet long, you'd better bring a standard or twin size bed and not much else. It comes with a small sink and a mini-fridge, but no oven or stove. And no bathroom. There's a toilet and shower in the hall that is shared by four units. Imagine holding it in while someone takes their morning shower before work.

One Crazy Trick for Increasing the Value of Your HouseIf someone contacts you and wants to rent your house for a couple of months to shoot a film in, you have to think hard about the inconvenience of either moving out temporarily or at least staying out of their way. But such offers are rare. What is more likely is that a movie or TV production may offer you some consideration for a few days to photograph and film the exterior of your home. That might be an easy choice to make, and it could pay off big time in the future- if the TV show becomes a hit or if the movie is a success. Take the house pictured above. You might recognize it as the home in which the events of the 1993 movie Mrs. Doubtfire took place. It was used for both exterior and interior filming, although the interior has been remodeled. The archived real estate listing doesn't mention the movie at all, but avid fans and San Francisco residents know. The upside of having a recognizable house from pop culture is that when it comes time to sell, you'll get vast publicity to draw potential buyers. The downside is that until that happens, you may have to deal with fans wanting to take selfies in front of your house. Read about several such homes that have been on the market since they became famous at Digg.(Image credit: Steve Gothelf) 

You Have a Lot of Work Ahead Trying to "Keep Up with the Joneses"The phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" is familiar to most of us, and implies the sad but ubiquitous habit of comparing ourselves to those around us. We end up buying and showing off things we cannot afford just to keep up with those who can afford it, and show that we, too, are worthy of status. This applies to houses more than anything else. But who were these enviable Joneses, and what were they showing off? That would be Elizabeth Jones, a staunch advocate of conspicuous consumption, and her lovely summer home in New York. The house, called Wyndcliffe, sat on 80 acres and was so grand that the area around it near the town of Rhinebeck on the Hudson River became hot property as others tried to, ahem, "keep up with the Joneses." That's where the familiar phrase came from. You might be interested in seeing this grand house and learning what became of it. YouTube channel This House is happy to tell you all about it.

Beach Art House Party Palace For SaleThis house looks very nice. Large and expensive, on the beach in Florida. It comprises 12,414 square feet, with four bedrooms and five bathrooms, plus pool and garage. But this is no everyday beach mansion. It was specially built in 1987 for Ron Rice, the founder of the Hawaiian Tropic company. He used it a his party palace, and outfitted it exactly the way he wanted it. Take a look inside.

For Sale: The Brady Bunch House, Restored to Its Original GloryUSA Today reports that the house used by the Brady family on The Brady Bunch is now available for purchase.

How to Get Started on a Native Plant GardenGetting back to nature out in the garden is one of the best ways to spend your time in the spring. More and more people are looking to make their gardens get back to nature, too, with less grass to mow, more bird and bee friendly flowers, and native plants. Growing plants that evolved for your area can help keep invasive plants (and animals) at bay, give a boost to pollinators, and raise your odds for success in getting your plants to survive and thrive right where they are meant to be. But going native in your garden might mean starting from scratch. No, you don't need to rip up your entire yard to get started, but you should go into the project prepared. You should assess your environment, get advice on which plants to use, and find out where they are available. You'll also need to decide how much you can do in one season, and what your approach will be regarding landscaping, soil enrichment, fertilizers, and pesticides. Mental Floss has some tips to get you started, from planning to enjoying, for a garden full of natural and native plants you'll find relaxing and satisfying for years to come. (Image credit: USFWS Mountain-Prairie)