decomagazine – Page 19 – Everyone needs a house to live in, but a supportive family is what builds a home.

Cool-Season Vegetables: How To Grow Spinach

Posted on July 8, 2019 by Eded1953

Spinach is your ultimate cool-season crop; it bolts fast once it encounters hot weather, which is anything above 75 degrees, or even if the days get too lengthy. However, it is great for spring, autumn and even winter in mild climates. And there are some varieties that are bolt-resistant.

There are generally three types of spinach: the savoyed (crinkly) and semisavoyed types as well as also the flat-leaf types. Baby spinach is flat-leaf lettuce harvested just three or four weeks following the seedlings appear.

More: How to grow cool-season veggies

When to plant: Sow seeds around two months before the final frost date, then keep sowing every three weeks until just past the last freeze date. In autumn, sow seeds a month to six weeks before the first frost date; continue throughout winter at mild-winter climates.

Days to maturity: 40 to 150

Light requirement: Full sun to light shade, particularly if afternoons will probably be somewhat hot

Water requirement: Provide consistent water but do not overwater

Favorites: Bloomsdale Longstanding, Indian Summer, Marathon, Oriental, Red Cardinal, Space, Tyee

Steve Masley Consulting and Design

Planting and care: Soil — at the ground or in a pot, as shown here — must be well drained and well amended. Sow seeds a half inch deep and an inch apart. Thin to 3 to 4 inches apart when seedlings appear (the very best and most nutritious way to thin is to pick the leaves off and eat them). Set transplants for this spacing too. Keep the soil continuously most but not overly wet, and make certain to weed carefully round the plants. Aphids, cabbage worms and leaf miners are the most annoying pests.

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

Harvest: Either pick off leaves as you need them harvest the whole plant. If you will need the whole plant but do not wish to pull it out, cut off leaves around an inch above the soil; the plant will regrow.

More: How to Grow Cool-Season Vegetables

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9 Sweet Ideas for a British Cottage Laundry Room

Posted on July 3, 2019 by Eded1953

Doing the laundry is not necessarily the most exciting chore. But since we all need to spend some time doing this, it’s worth it to make your laundry room a pretty place to be in. English cottage–fashion laundry rooms are full of the vintage touches, casual organizational methods and exquisite, light colours that so many people crave at a laundry space.

Turn your laundry room into an enchanting and adorable space with a couple of simple tricks. Even in the event you don’t have the luxury of a complete room — perhaps just a cupboard or an area near your washing machine which you are able to dedicate — do not worry, ordinary cottages do not have big, spacious rooms, anyhow.

Try some of those sweet ideas taken from beautiful English cottage-style laundry rooms.

1. Pick up secondhand finds. Don’t be concerned about everything matching perfectly. English cottage style is about mismatched, shabby chic.

Locate a worktable for folding laundry on at a local flea market. Sand it down and spruce it up with some paint — soft greens, baby powder or blues pinks always match this style well.

An old metal sink is excellent for this look, and such sinks are often nice and deep — excellent for hand washing items of clothing. Big white ceramic farmhouse sinks are a wonderful nod toward nation style too.

Add some personal touches such as a cute little vintage picture (a personal photograph or some needlepoint art would look fantastic ); a green plant or a little vase of flowers would include something fresh. This vintage enthusiast adds character, and the little lamp provides accent lighting and provides the space a homely feel.

2. Use glass jars for storage. Glass jars are a terrific way to store items like pegs, fabric softener sheets or powdered detergent. The clear glass makes it effortless to identify what you’re looking for and creates a nice, uniform look. Mix up the shapes and dimensions to add a little character.

It is possible to try sealed glass jars such as these, mason jars, canning jars or old-fashioned sweet jars using screw-on lids.

HARDROCK CONSTRUCTION

3. Collect wicker baskets. Wicker baskets are a terrific staple for a rustic look and supply endless storage chances.

If you are opting for cohesive rather than accumulated, arrange baskets of the exact same size on shelving. If your space (or style) is bit more higgledy-piggledy, purchase varying dimensions and slot them in where there is a gap.

You can purchase oversize baskets and display them by hanging them from the wall or the ceiling with metal hooks. Down them to use for freshly painted sheets or as an extra laundry basket.

ReStyle Group Interiors

4. Label, label, label. The secret to good organization is labeling things so they are easy to spot, which is easy, considering that there are so many different creative strategies to tag your items. Try some of them:
Blackboard paint and scatter on glass jars.Homemade tags from cardtied on with twine. Back the card at pretty wrapping paper or scraps of mismatched old wallpaper.Special jar labels written on with vibrant Sharpies. Categorize different items with distinct colors.Transfer letters from the favorite craft store.Labels made using a good ol’ P-touch label maker (you can usually find one in the regional office supply store).

5. Make cloth skirts. For a real English cottage look, try a candy cloth skirt instead of classic cupboard doors. You can easily make one yourself using old cloth remnants. Look for a small floral print or plain cloth in soft, washed-out colours. Hem the edges by stitching them using iron-on hemming tape. You will have to do a little sewing to make a loop at the peak of the cloth to thread through a piece of washing layer or metal curtain line. Then fasten your drape into the panels on either side of the opening.

Becky Cunningham Home

6. Hunt down old industrial items. Reuse old farm or industrial items to add an aged rustic end to your laundry room.

Utilize as shelving for sheets, to store jars of laundry detergent and clothespins, or to display a collection — for example old milk jugs, mason jars or vintage linens.

You can leave your find in the first metal end (rust adds character) or purchase one of many available colours of paint spray paint. Make sure you purchase a metal primer too.

More industrial-style accessories

Savvy Interiors

7. Add a Dutch door. If you’ve got the option, a Dutch door (in which the upper and the bottom portion of the door operate separately) can include a distinctly English cabin feel. Additionally, it keeps children and pets out of a workspace while still letting light and air in.

Paint the door sharp white or pick up among those beautiful chalky colours by English paint company Farrow & Ball. Try Pale Powder 204, Vert de Terre 234 or Hound Lemon 2. The Dead Flat end is excellent for a matte, vintage look.

The Shabby Nest

8. Carve out a coat tree. When you’ve got an underused corner or a cupboard, you can take the door away and use it as a convenient location for coats and shoes. To truly give it that English cottage style, add beadboard paneling (painted in soft pastels) into the walls or some vintage floral wallpaper. A chair cushion in pretty florals or soft stripes is the perfect location for sitting if you are taking off your shoes.

9. Dry clothing the old-fashioned way. Now I am not asking you to give up your trusty tumble dryer anytime soon, so don’t worry. However, the English are well known for a love of hanging their laundry out the old-fashioned way — especially outside to find that fresh-air odor.

You might not be prepared to go whole hog, but it will still make sense for the laundry space to get someplace to air dry clothing like delicates or wools. Try out this smart idea of having a pastel painted ladder from the ceiling.

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Board and Batten Shutters Offer Pretty Protection

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Eded1953

Hand-crafted board and batten shutters may be the quintessential accessory for creating charming curb appeal for a traditional home. Their vertical planks are positioned side by side to make the desired shutter width; the planks may be tightly positioned next to one another to make a closed layout or spaced apart for a more open look. Horizontal battens hold the boards firmly in place.

Often located on barns, cottages, French state –style houses and Spanish-style homes, board and batten shutters were initially designed to protect windows during strong storms. Nowadays they are more often decorative than practical. Either way, board and batten shutters are a trustworthy exterior staple which can improve the appearance of a house and allow it to reflect human taste.

AHBL

Functional custom made board and batten shutters with forehead shirts grace the arched windows of the North Carolina home.

Whitten Architects

Various shutter widths help to provide an original, customized look while also fitting the window for functionality and protection.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Board and batten styles are timeless on Spanish-style homes.

RW Anderson Homes

Deep overhangs, square-tapered columns and decorative board and batten shutters add to the home’s Craftsman charm.

Ramsey Landscape Associates, Inc..

Constructed onsite, the wooden board and batten shutters with this house vary in layout depending on the windows they’re dressing.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Crossbuck board and batten shutters, like these, include diagonal braces running in opposite directions, creating an”X” design.

Siemasko + Verbridge

Designed to resemble a 200-year-old cottage, this home conveys a feeling of background and evokes pictures of fairy tales. The board and batten shutters result in its own charm.

Whitten Architects

Board and batten shutters with decorative sailboat cutouts are a perfect choice for this waterfront Maine cottage.

Eric Watson Architect, P.A.

Massive shutters with eyebrow arches dress the windows of the Florida veranda. They are also functional, protecting the house during hurricane season once closed.

These handmade three-board dividers comprise Z-bar battens for added strength and durability.

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Colorful, Luxe Designs for Your Home

Posted on June 27, 2019 by Eded1953

What immediately jumps out at you with New York-based interior designer Steven Gambrel’s job is his dazzling use of colour. Lacquered walls in high main colours and chambers upholstered in jewel-tone textiles are de rigueur in a Steven Gambrel-designed house. And his bold color choices are not out of place. Whether designing an oceanside retreat, historic country manor or city house, he creates richly detailed settings that meld the design of the region with a modern way of life. “The place that a client chooses to reside reflects their personality, and helps notify others of the distinctive way of life,” he writes. “For me personally, to design a background for that lifestyle is a really exciting undertaking.”

Steven Gambrel: Time and Place, his very first publication, showcases the unique way he brightens and enriches living. Read on for tips from your publication on upgrading your house, Gambrel style.

ABRAMS

Use patterns to emphasize scale: The luxurious of big rooms is their capacity to absorb pattern and colour. Here, Gambrel combines just the right amount of solid and patterned bits to make a harmonious yet intriguing composition. The white and black patterned curtains draw the eye upward to the dramatic vaulted ceiling.

Hint: The vaulted ceiling was not an original feature of this room. To get the effect he wanted, he opened the lowered ceiling, then painted it with semi-reflective paint and set up the softly glowing mother-of-pearl lanterns.

ABRAMS

Update a conventional room with bright paintGambrel pays homage to the historic whaling town heritage of his Sag Harbor house by decorating the guest bedroom with rustic hardwood flooring planks and early American antiques. But the coral walls and contemporary-looking framed art instantly and seamlessly anchor the room to the 21st century.

Tip: Repurpose old paintings. Gambrel cut nautical scenes from a 19th century folding screen to make a framed montage with this wall.

ABRAMS

Play with contrasts in colour and texture: In this prewar Greenwich Village apartment, Gambrel went for a sophisticated European look. He achieved this via stark contrasts. The apartment entry shows this off beautifully — warm yellowish curtains stick out against white, black and grey surfaces, and the lacquered hardwood flooring is amplified by the matte paint onto the walls and doors.

Tip: Understated European elegance is evident in the doorway’s colour palette, which was painted in three shades of grey after a storefront seen in Paris. To accentuate the entryway’s architectural elements, he applied thin strips of paint into the wood paneling.

ABRAMS

Soften “decorative “ rooms with high gloss and colour: The clubby feeling of this library is tempered with the golden glow created by the reflective surfaces and amber accents. The shiny black walls are the perfect background for a modern art collection while the bright yellow ceiling gives the illusion of a lofty ceiling.

ABRAMS

A little playfulness goes a long way: Situated in between two grand public rooms in this New York City apartment, the kitchen is intentionally minimalist. The colorful world lamp adds some levity and contrasts with an industrial background of appliances and cabinetry.

ABRAMS

Guide your layout options by picking a sense of the room: This library evokes warmth and relaxation for a counterpoint to the marble-clad entryway preceding it. Gambrel accomplishes this with walls clad in scored beeswax and lined with cerused oak, and soft orange accents.

Hint: Prominent crown molding not only lends the room an architectural gravitas, in addition, it accentuates the height of the ceiling.

ABRAMS

Uncover unexpected details: To open a darkened and darkened kitchen, Gambrel eliminated a cupboard and set up windows and built-in seat seating. The turn of the staircase is currently a feature of the room that adds to the kitchen’s comfy ambience.

ABRAMS

Steven Gambrel: Time and Place – $50

More inspiration:
Designer Crush: How to Construct Like Thomas O’Brien

Layout Tips From the Countess of California Cool

Interview: The Design Magic of Tobi Fairley

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Meet the Inventive Lighting and Furniture of Peter Bristol

Posted on June 25, 2019 by Eded1953

After I first saw a photograph of the Peter Bristol–designed Corner Light just a couple of months before, I had been struck with its logic, simplicity and elegance. Of course there should be a light which only nestles at a corner and illuminates a space, I believed. It is one of those things that causes you to wonder why it did not exist before. It works so cohesively in a space it seems it can fit with almost any architecture or decor.

Bristol is a Seattle designer that creates lighting, furniture and other home goods and is also a lead industrial designer at Carbon Design Group. His work has received accolades from the form of design awards, patents, rave media and recently a judging position for I.D. magazine.

I talked to him recently about his Corner Light and other cool products, the impetus for some of his designs and also the intersection of practicality and creativity.

Peter Bristol

Q. Since its launch at the Milan Furniture Fair at 2011 your Corner Light has generated a Great Deal of interest. Do you think it has had allure?
A. The Corner Light takes part of the room that’s overlooked. It is very simple yet at the exact same time very unique. It only became something which I believed needed to exist. It is fascinating that Sebastian Wrong and Established & Sons felt exactly the exact same way and were able to help it become accessible.

Peter Bristol

Q. What are some tools you use in your own work?
A. Obviously your head is the most significant tool. The rest of the tools have a tendency to aid recognize, iterate, refine, define and communicate the job done upstairs. Thumbnails capture ideas and explorations; bodily mock-ups help understand ergonomics and scale quickly. Computers are invaluable for invention, refinement and communication along the way.

Peter Bristol

Q. How did your American Standards Light come about?
A. I had been doing a workout looking at regular icons. The wall and switch plug have been the icons. But then I realized that the manner in which many 2-by-4 walls are made is also recognizable. Referencing the entire drywall construction strategy became interesting. Putting elements collectively, the extra socket and also called switch strategy combined to make a pretty neat light.

Peter Bristol

Q. How much do older designs and new trends become involved?
A. You cannot help but be affected by what you know. The context of what has happened and is happening is always there. However, it seems good solutions have a tendency to be less about what others do or have done, and more about what should be done now.

Peter Bristol

Q. In case your Training Dresser had been around when my kids where growing up, they would have adored it. But then I realized: Hi, I could use that now. I am always loosing track of socks. What inspired you to style it?
A. Not certain where it came from. The usage of these clothes images outside is a too literal usage of iconography and a playful way of highlighting what is inside the dresser.

Q. I understand that it’s made in Washington state.
A. Right, its own handmade and packed in southern Washington by the team at Mountain View Cabinetry.

Peter Bristol

Q. The Cut Chair is indeed sculptural. It appears like it’s drifting. Can you sit on it without tipping over?
A. Yes, it’s pretty stable. The carpeting a part of the piece, and there’s a steel plate underneath that allows the seat pan to cantilever off the one leg.

Q. It seems like a departure from the more practical designs.
A. Yes, I agree. Not sensible. … I guess it’s a little more art than merchandise. That line is always a little fuzzy.

Q. Do you differentiate between layout that serves a particular purpose and design that’s great to check out?
A. That’s sort of the traditional form-function conversation, right? I am not certain that those two could be separated. Context guides good layout, but there are many interpretations of context. Something such as a medical merchandise has to be usable first, although other regions of design can let the item character take the lead. Function is beautifully distilled at the work of Dieter Rams, but there’s a whole different kind of attractiveness in the opinionated function of Marcel Wanders. Though the processes vary, there’s awesome work at both ends of the spectrum.

Peter Bristol

Q. Will there be a particular equilibrium you like to strike with experimentation, study, cooperation and other procedures?
A. I think each project takes on a life of its own. Those procedures all exist to help generate and find the ideal ideas. The manner in which they are mixed along the way is always different. It is tough to attempt to induce a rigid structure around such a fluid kind of work.

Q. How much does production affect your designs?
A. How things are created and how they go together always affect a layout, just like use always affects a design. Occasionally manufacturing methods define a item, and at times they enable it. It is typically difficult to separate the design in the engineering on nice products. Ultimately is the layout.

Q. Is it sometimes difficult to discuss your own work?
A. Occasionally it’s tricky to talk about attributes without seeming sales-y. I guess I think design must speak for itself, so any communication concerning the job should only confirm your natural intuition.

Q. Thus, just to torment you, here’s the dreaded query. How would you explain your outlook on layout?
A. Honest? Succinct? Appropriate? All these are things I try for.

Q. Can there be a Seattle or Northwest style?
A. There are probably several perceived Northwest fashions. I’m hesitant to explain any, since the web world tends to let things to happen anywhere and everywhere simultaneously.

Q. How do you approach designing and decorating your own house?
A. (Laughs) No real time to Be Worried about it. We obviously curate with things we like. Set up your house to suit the way you live, and the result will be good. It’ll be pleasurable for living and a true representation of you.

Learn more about Peter Bristol and his job

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11 Lighting Fixtures That Rethink the Flush Mount

Posted on June 20, 2019 by Eded1953

When you live in an older house like I do, you tend to think of the big picture when it comes to renovations: marble, landscaping, master bath. But it’s the small details that can take a bite out of your time and budget.

Take, for instance, the many flush-mount lights that scatter my ceilings, all of outdated and in need of replacement. It is going to be expensive to upgrade all of them, but having stylish fixtures rather than those stodgy old ones are going to be well worth every penny. Check out these 11 lights that take the flush mount into fresh territory.

Joel Kelly Design

Sleek and chiseled, this fixture falls right in step with all the area’s angular, manly design.

Wm. F. Holland/Architect

Rows of semiflush-mount pendants blend the best of both worlds: the visual allure of pendant lighting and the low profile of a flush mount. As a result of their orderly placement, these additionally enhance the design of the coffered ceilings.

Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath

A pretty, yummy fixture takes the place of a classic over-the-sink mild and adds a note of gentle elegance.

Michael Knowles, Architect

I am not sure I’ve ever seen flush mounts in cobalt blue. These seem like drinking goblets turned upside down, a fun spark in a neutral setting.

Erica Islas / EMI Interior Design, Inc..

This space-age fixture feels completely of the moment — there’s nothing old-fashioned relating to it.

AIA, dSPACE Studio Ltd

A sinuous semiflush mount underscores the slick, sexy aura of the little bath.

Charlie & Co.. Design, Ltd

All these drum-style fixtures punctuate the ceiling like buttons on a tee top. Their big scale feels suitable for the quantity of the corridor and helps to make it cozier.

Bruce Kading Interior Design

This sculptural standout is far more interesting than a typical crystal chandelier.

Inform us : What do you think of flush mounts? Share your ideas in the Comments section.

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Groovy 1970s Retro Pad at Los Angeles

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Eded1953

“If my walls could talk, they’d say thank you,” says Lorena California. It was in total disrepair before this wardrobe artist, stylist and classic boutique owner renovated her Echo Park, California, home with her celebrity husband, Johnny Sleeper, she says. Now each corner welcomes 1960s and ’70s style, from high-pile orange shag carpets to lemon-colored modular vinyl cabinets that save eight-track tapes. Feeling groovy? Get ideas for your own mod pad out of this dream home that is exuberantly.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Lorena California and Johnny Sleeper
Location: Los Angeles
Size: 1,650 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms
That’s interesting: The house is allegedly haunted by a kitty ghost termed Peachfuzz Kelli Pop.

Alex Amend Photography

Alex Amend: what’s your preferred furniture bit?
Lorena California: One of my favourite furniture pieces are these classic 1960s Broyhill modular vinyl cupboards. The lemon and lime colors I like even better than the Raymond Loewy bits they’re knockoffs of. We utilize the credenza to shop and play classic records and eight-tracks.

Carpet: Linoleum City; credenza: classic Broyhill; chair: classic

Alex Amend Photography

AA: What’s your latest splurge?
LC: This floating sofa is among my favorites and is something I have always dreamt of owning. In reupholstering the couch in that color I splurged. One of my best friends works for Kelly Wearstler and could not believe I had exactly the exact same sofa Kelly was now pricing out to go into production.

Design notice: The high-pile orange shag carpeting is really area rugs using the bindings cut off and laid as carpeting.

Carpet: Linoleum City; sofa: classic; shelving: classic Umbo

Alex Amend Photography

AA: Tell me about this particular space.
LC: I really like the yellow Umbo shelves, I have classic Barbie cases and other items on them, but I’m not sure any trinket or knickknack could outshine the shelves themselves. I also find the materials plastic and Lucite really appealing. They’re just so pretty and shiny.

Carpet: Linoleum City; shelving: Ikea and classic Umbo; chair: classic

Alex Amend Photography

California constructed a loft in one of the bedrooms to create a workspace to get her three-dimensional vintage-inspired collage art, which decorates many of the walls in her property. She says, “It is just a much better way to display amazing stuff than at a drawer. I always include one thing in each collage I truly don’t need to part with.” Many of the furnishings and collectables include Los Angeles flea markets, including eBay and Fourth Street in Long Beach, California, also called “Retro Row.”

Carpet: Linoleum City

Alex Amend Photography

AA: If you have four famous people over for dinner, who would you invite?
LC: John, Paul, George and Ringo.

AA: What would be in your soundtrack?
LC: The Monkees’ greatest hits.

Carpet: Linoleum City; table and seats: classic

Alex Amend Photography

Lorena reissued Formica counter tops and remodeled the kitchen with classic appliances. “The countertop is an original Formica pattern from the ’50s that was reissued a few years ago when Disneyland revived Tomorrowland,” she says. Working pinball machines light up the space beyond.

AA: What do you love most about your city?
LC: Los Angeles is my oyster. Though I’m pretty much a homebody, if I wished to go outside and do anything, I certainly have the alternative. When we are not playing at home, a favorite neighborhood spot is the local Pins and Needles pinball arcade.

Alex Amend Photography

AA: Was sourcing materials for your renovation a challenge?
LC: It’d have been a whole lot easier if granite, stainless steel and hardwoods didn’t make me gag!

Carpet: Linoleum City; shelving: classic; chair: classic Herman Miller

Alex Amend Photography

During the remodel, California place a window above the bathtub to gain access to the previously inaccessible roof space above the carport. That space now houses a hot tub and a sundeck. “We had to jump through a lot of hoops to get the permit to your window to go in,” she says.

AA: What advice would you offer other homeowners going through a renovation?
LC: You shouldn’t just double your worst-case-scenario estimate. You need to triple it.

Glass Floors: Modern Home

Alex Amend Photography

Many of the things in the home were found at flea markets rather than always in the best state, including the pendant lamps at the master bedroom. “They were gray with decades of filth and dust, but those spaghetti lamps always clean up if you soak them in the bathtub with dish soap to get a day or two,” California says. “Cut out the wiring, but it’s cheap to replace that and the swag chain at the hardware store.”

AA: Do you have some other home jobs in the works?
LC: We just did the master bath, but we’d like to update the fence in front yard so that it’s accessible from the living room.

Wallpaper: Designyourwall.com; carpet: Linoleum City; lamps: classic

Alex Amend Photography

Each surface in her home holds something dear to California.

AA: Tell me about your collections.
LC: ” I like to accumulate female fetish figures, Dolly Lollies and the like; bright colors; trippy designs; Lucite; ’70s maxi dresses that were weird rehash mashes of ’60s psychedelic themes. I’m ever refining and honing, upgrading and replacing.

Carpet: Linoleum City

Alex Amend Photography

AA: How can you select your color scheme?
LC: I really like the citrus palette for the downstairs, highlighted with java store turquoise to your kitchen. Pink and red for love in the bedroom, and I’m sure most folks would agree, however, lime green goes with whatever.

Carpet: Linoleum City; dresser: classic Broyhill; chair: classic

Alex Amend Photography

Johnny Sleeper and Lorena California, together with kitty Gingersnap Snickerdoodle.

AA: Can your home decor influence your fashion and work for a wardrobe stylist?
LC: It will. It need to live, if you love it.

More Tours:
Exuberant, Spacious Hacienda at Texas

Retro Modern at East Austin

Cozy and Deadly Vancouver Apartment

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Guest Picks: Styling and Storage for a Kid's Bookcase

Posted on June 14, 2019 by Eded1953

I recently completed decorating my daughter’s bedroom. The last area to undertake was a much-needed bookcase to house all of her things. Tween women (well, my daughter anyway) often collect piles of it.

I made a linen bulletin board to display her art and photographs, and leaned a poster and a framed doughnut tea towel on top of the bookcase. The fun part, though, was styling it that it would not only be functional, but pretty to look at.

I am always on the search for good looking yet cheap containers to store modest items. With a place for everything, everything is in its place. This bookcase has done wonders to maintain my daughter organized and keep things off the floor, which is where everything used to finish up.

I’ve rounded up some of my favorite storage/organization products in the rustic to the elegant. And I couldn’t help myself — I’ve included some tiny pieces of art to up the pretty factor of almost any bookcase. — Vanessa from Decor Happy

Vanessa Francis

This really is the bookcase, and I love how it turned out. Possessing a large piece like that (actually two bookcases attached together to seem like you ) means that there’s ample space to house everything from jewelry and books to stuffed animals and CDs. My daughter’s favorite slippers even have a house!

IKEA

LIATORP Bookcase – $220

The beadboard back on the Liatorp Bookcase won me over. It’s a magical detail I adore, and painting it in a vibrant colour simply adds to its charm.

IKEA

KVARNVIK Box, Set of 3, White – $19.99

I just adore these jute storage boxes. There are endless possibilities as to what it is possible to fill them with.

IKEA

KVARNVIK Box with Lid, Dark Blue – $11.99

I purchased two of those boxes to home my daughter’s CDs and odds and ends. I really like the indigo colour and they include labels.

Organize

Cabo Rectangular Basket, Medium – $24.49

These wire baskets enable your children to easily see what’s inside. I adore their vintage charm.

Pottery Barn

Linen Pin Board – $99

I left the linen bulletin board leaning towards the top of the bookcase, but you can save yourself time by buying one such as this. I find a neutral background is ideal for displaying art, photographs, etc..

MUJI USA

Tin Box with Lid – $22.50

These shoebox-size tin containers labels are sturdy and charming.

Etsy

Deep Dip Bowl from Rou Designs

I am a sucker for handmade porcelain bowls. Even though this one could be supposed to carry food, I think it would be excellent for keeping hair clips, elastics, etc..

Organize

Gold Leaf Birds on Branches Jewelry Holder – $43.49

This jewelry holder is so exceptional! I really like the gold tone, and the birds are so sweet.

West Elm

Whitewash Modern Weave Collection – $14

I adore the whitewash on these handwoven rattan baskets. The large ones are perfect for keeping blankets.

West Elm

Agate Bookends – $14

These agate bookends are practical and lovely.

MUJI USA

Acrylic Case, 2 Drawers with Lid – $26.75

These cases have two drawers. I’d home my daughter’s most adorable jewelry in these.

West Elm

Glass Shadow Boxes – $24

These are the most exceptional glass shadow boxes I’ve observed. They’ve a canvas lining, can be hung on a wall and can even be monogrammed.

Fluf

SOFT BIN Grey Dot – CAD 32

I adore this Canadian firm, and their bins made from organic cotton in vibrant patterns and colors are perfect for a kid’s room.

Etsy

Valentine Pink Heart Decor Wall Art by Lucy Snowe Photography – $40

This photograph of pink balloons forming hearts will seem pretty in a frame leaning on the back of a bookcase.

Jonathan Adler

Little Gold Bird Bowl, Gold – CAD 108

I really like Jonathan Adler’s pottery for its quirkiness, and these golden bird bowls are no exception. The end has a hammered detail which will add sparkle and glam to any area.

Grey Felt Storage Box – $49.95

Items made from sensed have a homespun component and remind me of my childhood. These storage boxes might be utilized at a boy’s or girl’s room to help keep the clutter at bay.

Etsy

Illustration Art Print Beautiful As You Are Birds by The Tiny Illustrator – $18

I really like motivational sayings, and this one would be ideal at a young woman’s room; it’s a good reminder.

Etsy

Tree House Bucket by Jenna Rose Handmade – $46

This hand-screenprinted fabric bucket is the perfect size to perch on a shelf. The leather grips as well as the linen/cotton treehouse fabric are a striking combination.

The Container Store

Blossom Stockholm Magazine File – $10.99

These magazine holders at a coral colour are functional and fashionable.

Serena & Lily

Pandan Bins – $28

You can never have enough storage bins. These juicy ones are made from handwoven palm fronds and are ideal for storing newspapers or bits and bobs that don’t have a house.

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American Architecture: The Components of Craftsman Style

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Eded1953

What it’s : Craftsman houses were largely motivated by the function of 2 builder brothers — Charles Sumner Greene and Henry Mather Greene — who worked together in Pasadena, California, in the turn of the 20th century. The Greene brothers were influenced by the English Arts and Crafts movement (a response against the Industrial Revolution in an attempt to promote the work of craftsmen and the handmade within the system made), as well as by Oriental wooden architecture.

Where to locate it: The earliest examples are in Southern California, but due to popularization of the style through national periodicals like House Beautiful and Ladies’ Home Journal and the following access to design books and kit houses, Craftsman bungalows became the most popular style of small house throughout the country from about 1905 through the 1920s.

Why you will love it: Just like most of things that come from California, there is something distinctively American about this fashion. Outside you will find details galore but inside, there is a simple, wide-open layout that makes the most of typically limited square footage.

Lawrence and Gomez Architects

What Makes It Craftsman

A low-pitched, gabled roof. The low-slung rooflines signify the effect of Oriental architecture on the style. These roofs typically possess a broad, unenclosed eave overhang with ornamental supports.

Roofs with a very low pitch are typically better suited to warmer climates, in which snow and ice aren’t likely to accumulate. They do require regular maintenance to make sure debris like leaves does not build up with time.

COOK ARCHITECTURAL Design Studio

A front porch. It is rare to find a Craftsman bungalow that doesn’t have a porch, even when porch only covers the entryway. Porches are either full (like this one) or semi width, and therefore are either sheltered under the main roof or under a separate, extended roof.

Porches are a terrific investment — they expand the livable space of small houses and make it feasible to spend time outside.

Melaragno Design Company, LLC

Tapered columns. This is one of the most distinctive characteristics of Craftsman houses, despite the version in detailing. Tapered columns, which support the porch roof, are typically brief and break upon massive stone or brick piers that extend into floor level, both of which convey a certain solidity. Not all columns are pliable; yet another popular variant is the double column.

Borrowing the exact comfy porch supports from the Craftsman style is a great way to find a touch of the look without rebuilding your home from scratch.

RW Anderson Homes

A partly entrance door. One great authenticity test of Craftsman bungalows is the way their doors are all styled. Almost all original models have glass panes in the top third of the doorway, separated by the underside paneled portion by a thick piece of trim.

Swapping out your door to get a Craftsman one is another way to incorporate a bit of the style into your home. There are lots of excellent sources for brand new Craftsman-style doors.

JCA ARCHITECTS

Multipane instead of single-pane windows. Just like a few other Craftsman details, this window style originated with the Prairie architectural style. The most common configurations are either four-over-one or six-over-one double-hung windows. The windows are usually grouped together and cased in broad trim.

This window style is a terrific traditional or historical style for houses with an opinion, since the single-pane lower sash has no mullion obstructions.

WINN Design+Build

Earthy Colours. Craftsman houses are usually painted in a nature-inspired palette of greens and reds to assist the low-profile bungalows blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Despite the mostly muted palettes, one or two contrasting colours are generally used to highlight architectural features like trim or decorative supports.

Put your best foot forward. Irrespective of the manner of your home, painting architecture comes with a contrasting colour is a great way to highlight your house’s best features.

Gardner Architects LLC

Single dormers. When Craftsman houses have dormers, they are usually wider and stick out on their own, unlike the pairs of dormers that typically appear in Cape Cod–fashion cottages. Single dormers are usually broad enough for two to three windows.

Dormers, especially broad ones, can change unused attics into livable space by adding square footage (sometimes an entire room’s value ) and ushering in organic light.

Joe Carrick Design – Custom Home Design

Stone details. Craftsman bungalows almost always feature a mixture of materials. The siding is typically wooden clapboard (though shingled siding can also be common), but porch piers and bases are usually made of stone. Brick, concrete block and stucco are also occasionally used.

Take a page in the Craftsman stylebook and combine stuff publicly. Think about cladding a small addition in stone or brick, even if your home has clapboard siding.

Dorothy Howard AIA, Architect

Exposed rafter tails and beams beneath heavy roof eaves. This another one of the distinctive qualities of the style; it reflects the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sought to make visible the handiwork that went into design, on the style.

Adding exposed rafter tails and beams does not need to involve reconstructing your house, let alone replacing your roof. These details are usually decorative and may be added under any heavy roof eave.

Christopher Templeton

Knee braces. These triangular supports are a structural solution to exposed rafter tails and roof beams. Like beams and rafter tails, they are usually decorative and may be added under any heavy roof eave.

Tell us: Do you love the visible craftsmanship of these houses? Or does it feel like overkill, particularly if you know that so much of the identifying characteristics are decorative and only made to look like engineering demonstrated?

Browse photos of Craftsman-style houses

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The Way to Work With a Landscape Pro

Posted on June 8, 2019 by Eded1953

Even if you bedeck a bedroom together with the very best of them or can decorate a living room, landscape design has a unique set. Not only does this require a completely different skill set from interior design, but in addition, it changes and evolves over time — blossoms wither trees older, shrubs grow and spread. And that is where a landscape pro can prove to be priceless. Follow our tips for locating, hiring and working with landscapers to create your yard the envy of the area.

Determine which type of landscape pro matches your requirements. Before you begin, you’ll need to ascertain the skill set that best fits the range of job you have in mind.

Landscape architects, who typically hold advanced degrees in their field, are trained to come up with comprehensive structural and decorative plans that include hardscaping, water use, and drainage in addition to plant selection and garden design. Plans can also include alterations to the exterior of the house as part of the general exterior design.

Landscape designers may or may not have advanced training. They often concentrate on the side of yard and garden preparation, but many do work.

Landscape contractors implement the programs laid out by a landscape architect or designer. Sometimes, a landscape contractor also provides design solutions. Based upon your vision to your yard, you may choose to utilize any or all of these kinds of professionals.

Exteriors From Chad Robert

Establish a budget. As with interior design and remodeling projects, have a firm idea of what you wish to spend before you contact a pro. Not only can this give the landscaper a set of parameters and a point, it will save both of you frustration in the future. You do not need to fall in love with sketches of lavish flowers and stately trees, just to learn they’re beyond reach, and a pro does not wish to waste time drawing up comprehensive plans that will afterwards must be scratched.

With a target cost in hand, a pro may also indicate creative solutions that may never come into play otherwise, assisting you to extend your budget to get the most mileage out of each dollar.

Scout out potential resources. Have you got friends whose gardens blossoms with lavish color or look to win “Yard of the Month” once a season? Ask whether they utilize specialist help, and if that’s the case, put those experts on your short list. Local botanical gardens and homebuilders’ associations are other excellent places to seek names.

Barenz Builders

Assess licensing and references. Assess for certificate requirements in your area. This is particularly true when it comes to elements with security ramifications, such as walls and retaining walls. If certification is required for your occupation and your area, confirm licensure for each pro you consider. When you have narrowed it down to two or three finalists, get references from each and be diligent about checking them. If past customers are happy, chances are you’ll be too.

Provide useful documents. Although your landscape pro will run an initial site visit and walk-through initially of this project, they will probably require a copy of your house plat in order to start work on your design, particularly if there are building licenses involved. You can also be asked to complete a questionnaire or other info sheet to assist the expert understand your requirements and requests as completely as possible.

Samuel H. Williamson Associates

Know the look you want. It can help to have at least a basic idea of your favorite style and upkeep level. Would you rather have formal gardens or a wilder, more free-form look? Would you like plants that thrive under benign neglect, or are you prepared to take on specimens that require a great deal of attention and care? Will you need paths, pavers or other hardscaping? How would you like to water? Just a little direction will help your pro fine-tune your options.

At precisely the exact same time, allow room for imagination — your landscaper’s creativity and experience are the reason you hired them.

Be open to suggestion and feedback. And do not automatically nix plants you think you dislike; you may find they gain a whole new appeal as a portion of the ideal general scheme.

Andrew Renn

Set a maintenance plan. When the landscape crew has packed up their spades and shovels, you’re responsible for keeping your yard in tiptop form. If you’ll be tackling the maintenance of your garden once it is set up, your landscape pro should provide an outline of what tasks to get ready for, in addition to when and how often to perform them. If you’d rather employ a gardener to perform the maintenance job, request the landscaper for recommendations. Some companies provide both services; assess whether this is the situation.

More: 4 Steps to the Perfect Garden
Lay of the Landscape: Natural Garden Style

Find a pro: Landscape architects | Landscape designers | Landscape contractors

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