Have you seen this logo?

June 21, 2005 2:20 AM

Logofilter: Yesterday I was making a website/business card logo for a friend - but I kept getting this nagging feeling that part of the logo was familiar somehow, and it's driving me crazy . . .

A ten-second mockup with name changed:


The part that concerns me is the house bit on the right side - something in the back of my brain swears I've seen it before somewhere and this being a friend's newfound pride and joy the very last thing I want is to get him screwed with a trademark or logo dispute.

My first thought as to what it might be was Century 21, but their logo doesn't look like the mockup. Google Image Search on "house logo" and "roof logo" turns up this generi-logo and not much else.

Has anyone seen something similar to the mockup?

posted by Ryvar to media & arts (18 comments total)

It looks rather familiar to me but I couldn't place it. Here is a logo somewhat similar in concept.

Here are some logo resources that might help in your search:
Best Brands of the World
Clever logos
identityworks
posted by madamjujujive at 3:37 AM on June 21, 2005

Another similar logo:

posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:32 AM on June 21, 2005

A quick'n'dirty GIS for "roof logo", "remodeling logo", "house logo", and "building logo" came up with these:
Climate Conservation - closest I found
Cedar Roof
Roof Crafters
Bob Piva Roofing
Osslund Roofing
Denver Home Remodeling
Sweeny Construction

In any case, it seems like it's a common enough idea that you don't need to worry about it.
posted by ArsncHeart at 4:42 AM on June 21, 2005

Sort of reminded me of the Fraiser logo-thing when I first glanced at it
posted by derbs at 4:59 AM on June 21, 2005

Something seems kind of familiar to me, too... but, like derbs, I get a television kind of feeling. Any TV shows that might have something similar? Or am I just having a brain fart?
posted by taz at 5:05 AM on June 21, 2005

Home Improvement?
posted by Pigpen at 5:24 AM on June 21, 2005

nope...
posted by taz at 5:30 AM on June 21, 2005

First Franklin is kinda close.
posted by Alex Handcoding at 5:44 AM on June 21, 2005

HGTVPro.com
Curb Appeal

both use logos that incorporate a house roofline. But I think it is a very common symbol.
posted by jeanmari at 6:10 AM on June 21, 2005

More somewhat similar logos with roof elements, but none are famous, so they are not what any of us may be trying to recall.

Web Builders
Cory Barten
Wilmington Realty
Central Realty
posted by madamjujujive at 6:27 AM on June 21, 2005

yes, derbs is right. And it is close to the century 21 logo. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about it, I don't think it's close enough to warrant any legal problems.
posted by freudianslipper at 6:31 AM on June 21, 2005

It reminds me of a Monopoly house.
posted by bondcliff at 7:07 AM on June 21, 2005

It's *very* familiar. Not just the shape, but the color. Bank? This is driving me crazy.
posted by TonyRobots at 9:14 AM on June 21, 2005

It looks familiar because it's a cliché. Probably half the home remodeling/ real estate/ mortgage companies in the world use a house as part of their logo, so one more is bound to seem familiar. It's so common that a trademark infringement case is highly unlikely.

I don't think it's a bad thing -- as a business, your client probably wants to come off as friendly and familiar to his customers.
posted by me3dia at 9:38 AM on June 21, 2005

For some unfathomable reason, I'm reminded of the Six Feet Under episodes where Ruth enrolls in "The Plan."
posted by jaut at 11:49 AM on June 21, 2005

Someone without a MeFi account was kind enough to message me the following on AIM:

Bluth Logo apparently from Arrested Development.

I'd say that First Franklin, the above, and the HGTVPro.com logos are are the top three in similarity, and my friend suggested a good variation on the same basic idea as the mockup that should differentiate it enough.

Thanks a ton for all the help I got on this one - best answers went to the closest two, but I really appreciate everyone's answers. You guys rock!
posted by Ryvar at 11:59 AM on June 21, 2005

The Bluth company is definitely not something you want your business to be identified with - unless you are planning on building palaces for Saddam Hussein.
posted by matildaben at 1:00 PM on June 21, 2005

Add a ladder up the side of the house.
posted by Goofyy at 10:31 PM on June 21, 2005