We just received some photos from UNStudio showcasing this uncommon holiday home from Upstate New York. VilLA NM is a compact building, especially designed for weekend and vacation getaways with family and friends. The architects described it as a “futuristic hut” that has unobstructed panoramic views over the surrounding landscape and large floor to ceiling windows that establish a great connection with the exterior. Here is more information: “The kitchen and dining area on the ground floor are connected by a ramp to the living space above, the 1.5-meter (5 feet) height change allowing for a sweeping outlook over the surrounding woodland and meadows. A similar ramp connects the living area to the master and the children’s bedrooms on the second floor.

Facilities such as the bathroom, kitchen and fireplace are clustered in the vertical axis of the house, leaving the outer walls free. Large glazed windows feature in all but the most private rooms.Technically, the volumetric transition is generated by a set of five parallel walls that rotate along a horizontal axis from vertical to horizontal. The walls become floor and vice versa. The ruled surface maintaining this transition is repeated five times in the building. Standardizing and pre-fabricating of this structural element lowered the building costs without reducing the spatial quality of the interior.”

It's difficult to make a home your own and ensure it does not just take on a bland feel, but with these tips, you might find something that helps you put your mark, on your space.

1) Transfers
For those making the decision to paint a room, transfers on walls are available nearly everywhere nowadays. They need minimal skills to put up, minimal time to remove and add a dimension to rooms that is incredibly personal and can be good fun. They can also be used to brighten up current schemes.

2) Kids
For those who have small children in their life, kids are great when home design is in question. Think handprints on flowerpots, foot casts on the front door step, murals in bedrooms, bright and marine orientated family bathrooms. Kids give us the opportunity to make spaces a nice place to be and bright, especially their bedrooms and communal living areas.

3) Organization.
Books and DVDs can now be stored in a manner of dynamic and modern styles. Storage devices can add another an aspect to a room that leans towards the unconventional, while still carrying out their objective. Look online for some fantastic storage companies.

4) Color and Design
Don't be afraid to mix and match design and color. Remember these simple rules, no more than three colors or patterns to a room. Flowers on cushions work with others that are striped or of a totally different fabric for example. Colors work together if they are all from the same pallet, bright blue doesn't work with pastel green, but would work with another bright color. Experiment and don't be afraid to take your time.

5) Software helps.
There are software packages that help us design rooms at the touch of a button, why not give it a go and see what you come up with.

6) Run a theme throughout the house.
Rather than walking from one room to another and feeling like you are being shocked by your eyes in each, try and pick a theme and have the colors or style echo throughout your house in communal spaces. It means that the whole house ends up with a "feel" to it, rather than just one room being a little of one thing and another being a little of something else.

7) Take your time
Our homes are our sanctuary. Take your time, shop about and don't rush to buy cheaply if you can take the time to save a little more for something you really want, you'll be glad you did when you find it's still in your home years later. Ask for discounts when buying and don't be afraid to banter.

8) The great outdoors.
Try and make your outdoor space, however small, an extension of your home. You will find you will use it more if you like it and in time will benefit from being outdoors through an increased sense of wellbeing. Water features, small herb gardens and potted flowers all add to the sense of home.

Good luck and enjoy yourself, after all, isn't that what being at home is about?