July 2019 – TEADSEVENTS

13 Ways to Spiff Up Your Closet Your Dressing Routine

Whether you have a walk-in cupboard and a separate dressing area (lucky you!) Or a room that barely fits half of your wardrobe, there are plenty of methods to produce your cupboard a space that inspires you — one that makes getting dressed and out the door a breeze. Sure, we store our clothes , but this distance (regardless of how big or little ) may also affect how we feel about ourselves, so it pays to give this zone a little additional love.

Unless you have an ample walk-in cupboard, you probablyspread out into different areas of your home while you are getting prepared. Can you lay out clothes on the mattress? Keep jewelry? Consider the most effective ways to organize and design all these places: For the purposes, they’re all your cupboard!

FOCAL POINT STYLING

1. Raid your kitchen for storage. Tiny teacups, saucers and bowls create fairly containers for jewelry, either tucked into a jar or set on top of a dresser. Cake stands and tiny trays are ideal for corralling beauty products or scents.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

2. Curate and rotate your wardrobe. Scarves knotted on a simple rod is a chic way to store and exhibit your favorites — a small selection of neatly organized items you love is bound to make getting dressed easier. Think about rotating your wardrobe even if you don’t reside in a spot with distinct seasons. Shake your wardrobe (and spare room) by maintaining just a portion of clothes front and centre in any particular time. The remainder can be neatly folded and packed into underbed storage boxes or offloaded to a closet in a different area.

Lisa Adams, LA Closet Design

3. Paint your cupboard a flattering hue. No matter the size of your cupboard, painting the inside may do wonders. Soft pink is a color that you may shy away from in a larger area, but at a cupboard it feels just right: warm and flattering.

Clayton&Little Architects

4. Set up storage. Most people can use some mix of shelves and hanging rods in the cupboard, so make certain you make space for both (you could always maintain the shelving on your bedroom). Invest in a few sturdy baskets to maintain accessories neat on shelves. Have one per kind, such as belts, scarves etc.. Even a tiny square ottoman takes up barely any space and offers you a place to perch as you try on shoes.

Martha O’Hara Interiors

5. Make your cupboard and dressing room a location you wish to be in. Bring in enjoyable style and design publications, fresh flowers, soft rugs and rugs; update your lighting. Lean a mirror against the wall and compose or stencil an inspiring word, quote or line of poetry on it.

6. Locate additional room. First, make certain you have pared down your wardrobe to contain only items that match, that make you feel good and that you actually wear. If you still need more space, then get a wardrobe rack with blank lines and place it right on your bedroom. This is a second for curating: Pick pieces in similar colors and lengths, and hang all of them on nice matching hangers for a uniform look.

Urban Outfitters

Doorknob Curtain Tieback – $14

7. Make an entrance. A great trick for small cabinets would be to replace the doorway with a drapes — it opens up the space and adds a little play. Instead of having a plain old curtain tieback, go with something a bit more glamorous, such as this knob out of Urban Outfitters.

Emily Ruddo

8. Line a very small closet with wallpaper. Better than paint at a petite closet is chic wallpaper, like this traditional print out of Quadrille. Additionally, having a beautifully wallpapered cupboard might even motivate you to keep items neat!

PBteen

Classic Frame Jewelry Storage Pinboard – $59

9. Keep outfit ideas handy. I really like the notion of using a bulletin board to maintain outfit and inspiration ideas at hand. Tear out inspiring images from magazines, publish outfit ideas in your favorite fashion blogs or (for the genuinely organized) take photos of your favorite outfits, which means you will never forget a winning mix.

Clarkson Potter

10. Find creative storage solutions. If you have any large assortment, from hats to shoes, it’s usually best to find a way to store it so that which is visible. For instance, keep shoes on open shelving or in boxes with photo labels. Keep hats line by clipping them to a length of cord.

Tim Wood Limited

11. Have a cue from your favorite store. Utilize boutique-style straight rods to exhibit bags or even clothing. This is a wonderful solution if you prefer to have the ability to see everything you have.

Anthropologie

Cygnus Hook – $14

12. Make your doorway work for you. Install a decorative hook on the back of your closet door to maintain your prettiest an outfit to the following day in the ready.

Jessica Lagrange Interiors

13. Go for a touch of glam. Add a tufted ottoman to perch on, a folding screen to make an impromptu dressing area, or a framed example or black and white photo of your design icon — whatever to bring a little bit of glamour into your getting-ready area.

Tell us: Which are your cupboard challenges? Have some favorite creative solutions to talk about?

More:
How to Style Your Closet (Almost) Like a Celeb

10 Amazing Master Closets

12 Ways to Get More Out of Your Closet This Year

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New Classics: Paul Smith's Swirl Rug

Designer Paul Smith’s Swirl has become a signature pattern that is swooshing across all from bikini bottoms. Now, thanks to a collaboration with The Rug Company, you will locate it on the ground too. The colorful stripes are mixed with more neutral and muted tones, which makes it a surprisingly versatile option. Some designers draw from the brighter tones, but others allow it to be the only colorful piece in a more subdued colour palette.

Whatever the choice, the rug is a stunner that, though you’ll be trampling on it, should be considered a work of art. If you choose to purchase a single (the hand-knotted Tibetan wool model runs $130 per square foot), then you are going to have the ability to use it in just about any area. Have a look at the possibilities.

Baxter Design Group

This rug is very helpful in supplying colour inspiration; you can pick hues right from its stripes and the rug joins them together.

Modern Rugs

The rug is made of wool from Tibetan sheep and hand knotted in Kathmandu, Nepal, by skilled weavers.

Baxter Design Group

EcoFirstArt

I never would have thought of using this rug for a stair runner, but the results are mind blowing. My only worry is that I’d have a fall while partaking in the swirls in my way down the stairs.

Koo de Kir

It takes a confident designer to mix such a lively, modern rug using a large scale historical relief, but the outcome is striking. There’s a balanced mixture of many eras within this brownstone’s living area.

Koo de Kir

All the rest of the furniture in this area is very dim in tone; the neutral hues from the Swirl give it this flexibility.

Leone Design Studio

Employing the Swirl rug is an eccentric means to update a midcentury modern aesthetic.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Evidently, due to its bright colors and wavy lines, the Swirl is a great choice for a child’s playroom or bedroom.

PURVI PADIA DESIGN

Caitlin Wilson Design

The rug’s range of colors and abstract pattern keep a female bedroom from getting too froufrou.

Axis Mundi

Likewise, they keep a darker, more manly palette from getting overly man cave–ish. Smith describes his work as “classic with a twist” — adding that the Swirl to any area is the twist.

More:
Print Electricity: Using Modern Rugs at the House

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8 Questions That Will Assist You See Through Green Hype

We have all seen some thing like that — an ad that comes on TV revealing blue sky and pristine mountain streams, the narrator gushing about concern for protecting our planet… but the ad is for bottled water or even an oil company. What gives? When a business makes it look that its service or product is ecofriendly without being able to back up the promises, that is greenwashing.

Before you buy a product claiming to be great for the environment, it is important to understand what to search for. Here are eight important questions to ask which will help you sift through the advertising hype, which means that you can feel great about what you bring into your house (and spend your hard-earned money on).

blackLAB architects inc..

1. Does the company use lots of buzzwords? Conditions like”green,””natural,” eco,””kind” and”all natural” are vague and untrue, so anyone may use them to describe a product — regardless of what is really in it or how it had been made. If there is nothing more to support the claim that a product is more green outside calling it green or placing just a tiny leaf on the tag, you’ll want to look deeper.

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

2. Is the advertising filled with feel-good pictures? Packaging and ads featuring oceans, forests or really healthy-looking folks frolicking in fields of wildflowers may give the impression that the stuff being marketed is great for Earth. When paired with green buzzwords (see question number one), this strategy can be quite capable of swaying us. Of course, lots of genuinely green products utilize natural vision — but if no facts are presented together with the character scenes, do further research.

Mabbott Seidel Architecture

3. What is the life span of the item, and can it be recycled or reused? An significant part going green is considering our effect on future generations. Is the product in question top quality and built to last? And where will it go as it reaches the end of its usefulness? Some substances (for example, wood and metals) can be readily recycled or reused. Other products, such as Flor carpet tiles, may be sent back to the manufacturer through a recycling program.

ZeroEnergy Design

4. Is it available everywhere? Heavy products, such as stone, need an incredible quantity of fuel to be transported from place to place, so it is sensible to find a product readily available in your area rather than having it shipped from afar, even if it is a wonderful sterile material.

RD Architecture, LLC

5. Is it healthy? If you are trying to maintain your house as toxin free as possible, it is crucial to ask about what is in the item and whether it is harmful. Simply because something is labeled”fair trade,” for instance, doesn’t necessarily mean it is healthy, so search for specific information regarding ingredients and finishes before making a buy. The cabinets at the (truly ecofriendly) home shown here are formaldehyde free.

Rob Sanders Designer – Custom Home/Remodel Design

6. Does this just not sound right? Water bottles made with less plastic, SUVs that use less gasoline and McMansions incorporating some green features are just pollution-causing, resource-depleting things trying to be supplied a greener image. Listen to your common sense — you know it’s better to carry a reusable water bottle and pick a bigger car and house, so ignore the hype and trust your gut instead.

Natalie Younger Interior Design, Allied ASID

7. Does this carry a tag from a respected third-party certifier? The kitchen revealed here includes Energy Star–rated appliances. Energy Star is a trustworthy method for rating energy efficiency in appliances and fixtures. Familiarizing yourself with some of the other most widely used third-party rating systems will make it effortless to spot the real deal:
Ecologo: renewable productsGreen Seal: merchandise and servicesForest Stewardship Council (FSC): woodU.S. Green Building Council’s LEED program: buildings
WaterSense: bath fixtures

Gaspar’s Structure

8. Does this support an ecofriendly way of life? If buying a coffee maker you adore means you’ll be able to skip this daily visit to the coffee house, and that helps you cut down on driving, I’d consider an ecofriendly buy. On the flip side, if buying that fancy organic bedding set could just add to an already overstuffed linen cupboard, you might want to reevaluate your motivation. More stuff means more funds utilized, even if the item was made in an ecofriendly way.

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Reduce and Shape Up With Hairpin Furniture Legs

Many midcentury aficionados love the appearance of a hairpin leg, but not everybody knows about its history. Originally designed in the early 1940s, hairpin legs gained popularity because of the small amount of steel they required — a legitimate wartime invention. Today’s midcentury resurgence and love of fresh, pared-down types has brought them back into the limelight.

You can scoop up an authentic classic set online to add to an obsolete coffee table or find new furniture using hairpin legs out of your favorite retailer. Curious if this retro leg will operate in your home? Have a look at a number of my favorite examples below.

WORKSTEAD

This classic dining table, located on eBay, has a simple wooden top with cast iron hairpin legs. The clean lines of this Wegner Wishbone dining seats match the curves of the legs.

A Good Chick To Know

Most authentic classic hairpin legs are made from raw steel. But today’s furniture tends to have more options — many bits have hairpin legs with brushed stainless steel, vibrant powder-coated or chrome-plated finishes.

Platform

Hairpin legs come in a variety of heights, typically about 4 to 28 inches, which makes them appropriate for all from a daybed into a beverage table.

Louise Lakier

Three-rod hairpin legs tend to be sturdier than the conventional two-rod hairpin leg, which makes them better suited to bits like desks and dining tables.

Sets of classic hairpin legs like these make it simple to design DIY furniture. It is possible to find classic and new hairpin legs on websites like Etsy or eBay, or by providers like Modern Legs or Table Legs.

A good slab of timber along with four legs can easily become…

Emily McCall

… an end-of-bed seat, a coffee table or a table.

UrbanWood Goods

If you’re feeling especially hands free, look at using hairpin legs for a DIY toilet vanity, like in this picture. This set of vessel sinks looks especially crushing on the hairpin-legged console.

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Grow With Intention: Nourish Your Creativity at Home

Whether you knit, sew, paint, craft or write, odds are that you find it hard to squeeze as much creative time as you would like. It is all too easy to permit our programs to be stuffed to the brim with obligations to other people, however, the fact remains that when we take the time to perform the things which nourish our creative spirits we all feel better. When autumn approaches, and the coziness of house beckons once again, it is the ideal time to take up your chosen craft (or try something new).

All these 11 ideas and beautiful, inspiring spaces will help spark your imagination, get you out of any ruts and support your crafty side.

Moving Home

No more excuses! Keep away from distraction and take advantage of limited time. Even if you’re able to set aside only 10 or 15 minutes, should you make them count — and replicate daily — you will be amazed at what you can accomplish. While it’s true that some jobs require a few longer committed work times, if we are being honest, largely “I have no time” is just another way to procrastinate.

If generating is important for you, you likely can locate the time. Set yourself up for success by avoiding easy access to the net and turning off all of your devices during committed creative work times — and allow people you live with know just how important this time is to you.

HUISSTYLING

If you need a large, open space, make it happen. If what you really need is a expansive surface to spread out on and you don’t have a dedicated place with you, don’t let that stop you. It’s perfectly all right to call dibs on the dining room or kitchen table between meals, provided you can clean your work into the side comparatively easily. Keeping a cabinet or drawers nearby can make it easy to sweep things off the table in a rush.

Murphy & Co.. Layout

Feeling trapped? Take a time-out for exercise. The next time a creative block strikes, consider taking a brisk walk, settling into a few yoga poses or lifting weights — whatever to get your blood pumping. Exercise gives your mind a break from actively considering your creative difficulty while enhancing flow (and probably your disposition). The best ideas can bubble up spontaneously during these time-outs, pulling you out of your rut in a significantly shorter time than if you had been attempting to induce a notion to come.

Katy Sullivan Designs

Find a corner to call your own. Whether it is a little table pulled up to a sunny window, a closet which can be curtained off from the remainder of the space, a tiny unused corner or a cupboard having a work surface concealed inside, it is crucial to find somewhere that lets you fully devote to your creative practice. There will be times when you have to leave your work in the middle of a job, and it is so beneficial if you’re able to leave some of your materials out instead of having to clean up completely every time. Do not fret if the only space you are able to find is a little out of the way — occasionally a desk with a stunning view is not quite as conducive to good work as a very small nook, where you can focus your energy on the job at hand.

Julie Ranee Photography

Make sure you have easy access to your materials. If you need to hunt and dig every time you wish to work on your craft job, odds are that it is not likely to happen as often as you would like. It’s not necessary to keep every last item on screen, but putting frequently used tools in an easy-to-grab spot is essential. Fill an open-top basket or bin with your materials and store it in the area in which you like to get the job done.

Moving Home To Roost

Let your whole distance reflect your creative passions. There’s something to be said for having an whole studio devoted for your art (obviously), however for the majority of us, finding creative distance inside the remainder of our house is exactly how it goes. But that doesn’t mean you must confine your imagination to one zone — actually, the more you’re able to integrate mini creativity spots throughout your space, the more likely it is you’ll be enticed to make something. Consider displaying your guitar on a rack in the living space, maintaining pretty cloths or luscious yarns in open cubbies, and stashing a stack of fresh notebooks and pleasant pens close to your favorite chair.

Karen Joy Interiors

Know when you need solitude. This suggestion is especially pertinent for people living with children or roommates. Even if you have a large space, while others are continuously interrupting to ask you questions or chat, then you need to find somewhere more private. Taking over a part of your own bedroom with a worktable and also an inspiration board might be the ideal solution. If you want to be really tricky, you can even pretend you’re still sleeping — squeeze in a bit creative time first thing in the morning before anyone knows you’re up.

Gosto lifestyle & design

Disposition matters: Your creative space ought to inspire you. While it is true you should minimize distractions during imaginative time, that doesn’t necessarily mean you ought to operate in an entirely unadorned area, either. Tap to what fuels your imagination and attract more of that into your space. Consider a little stereo if you like music while you work, textiles or classic objects that ignite your creativity, an inspiration board at which you can collect your ideas, and novels you love; even entertaining wallpaper or some vibrant wash of paint can improve your mood and help juice your creative spirit.

Lindsay von Hagel

Entice yourself with inspiring quotes. I am a huge believer in the power of words, and an apt quote has helped me out of a creative rut several times. Maintain a rotating selection of favorite quotes, sayings, song lyrics and lines of poetry on a chalkboard or pin board, or just taped to your wall for a quick boost whenever you need it.

Jennifer Bishop Design

Know that moments of humor on your decor make imagination flow. Keep the mood light on your creative space using a bright, entertaining touch just like a decorated or “dressed” sculpture, a cheapo classic portrait that you’ve drawn a mustache on or some object that brings a smile to your face.

Be receptive to imagination in all areas of your life. Creativity permeates everything we do, from our discussions with friends to preparing dinner for our families. Approaching everyday tasks using a creative outlook makes our daily life richer and more satisfying.

Tell us : how can you find time to work on creative endeavors? What would your fantasy crafting or making distance look like?

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Modern Urban Oasis at Austin

Jim and Laurie Curry lived in their Tarrytown neighborhood property for 10 years before deciding to accept a full rebuild of the house. Leaving behind a lovely Burr Oak tree from the first house, they worked with Brian Dillard Architecture and Pilgrim Builders to turn their contemporary, relaxing retreat into a reality.

Deciding to rip the original home down was not an easy decision. “We were not casual about tearing our past house down; we had lots of people determine there wasn’t any wise approach to redesign on such a space, as the foundation was shot,” Jim says. “We needed to go 35 feet underground and spend more money to be certain our present house can take care of the weird clay in Tarrytown.”

The result is an inviting yet contemporary home that contains a gorgeous backyard landscape including an open pool space and a jungle gym for their vivacious 2-year-old. The largest challenge for the household was designing the house into the 3,000 square feet space and juggling the neighborhood architecture code constraints. “We feel quite settled now,” Jim says.

Who lives here: Jim, Laurie and their 2-year old son Beckett Curry (with twins on the way)
Location: Austin, Texas
Size: 3,000 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
Constructed: Completed in 2011
Architect: Brian Dillard Architecture; builder: Pilgrim Building Company

Kara Mosher

The residence is ideal for living in a hot climate as many walls in the space slide entirely receptive to turn the house into an indoor-outdoor paradise. From the patio you see views of the landscaped roof, the pool, jungle gym and downtown Austin.

“There’s nothing cooler than being outside, early evening in hot weather when children are swimming or playing and we could unwind on the side of pool keeping an eye on everybody,” Laurie says. “Or Jim can fire the fire pit in winter and project a movie on the cabana wall. Later on, we could have movie nights out and observe in the pool.”

Kara Mosher

Among the most amazing features of this residence is its indoor-outdoor flow. The living area west wall opens into the pool along with also a seating area with Crate & Barrel sofa seats. This is the point where the couple feel most at home in their urban oasis.

Kara Mosher

The front door entryway is welcoming and warm, as well as the clean lines of this staircase beckon visitors upstairs. The staircase and its enlightened reflection were part of architect Brian Dillard’s eyesight.

Kara Mosher

The master bedroom features beautiful views and is known as the”treehouse” by Jim and Laurie. With 2 walls of windows, one of which slides open exposing a landscaped patio, it produces a serene and peaceful place to sleep.

Kara Mosher

The patio out their treehouse-like master bedroom is soothing and calm. The entry to the patio is a floor-to-ceiling window wall, welcoming you outside with ease. A simple leather lounge chair sits in the corner, next to a bright blue circular side table, making simple elegance.

Kara Mosher

The living room’s west wall opens entirely. Considering Austin’s beautiful weather most of the year, this generates the ideal flow for a peaceful breeze to enter the house. An outside heater warms cold evenings.

Kara Mosher

The white living area glider seat is just one of the couple’s favorite furniture pieces. Laurie says,”I really like my glider which started as my nursing seat but fits nicely into living space — and I’m loving it with back support for my twin pregnancy.”

Kara Mosher

“We like the simple, clean look but that will only go so far with three children under the age of 3,” Laurie says. The table acts as a coffee table at night for the adults, along with also a play table for Beckett during the day.

Kara Mosher

A downstairs hallway comes with a floor-to-ceiling window using green pine only outside. A painting of a Spanish matador is framed in an inlet designed into the wall, using soft overhead light illuminating the art, giving the sense of a contemporary museum.

Kara Mosher

In the bamboo picture window the house flows into the kitchen and dining room space.

Kara Mosher

The kitchen, like lots of different rooms in the house, boasts a large picture window with a view of this picturesque backyard. The kitchen features a large island in the center and a round flow into the space, which makes cooking an efficient and peaceful process.

Kara Mosher

The black shutters close to the dining area table create a wonderful contrast to the soft tones in the room. The black dining table additionally adds to this feel. Colorful placemats from Ikea add a wonderful splash of colour to the tabletop.

Kara Mosher

A downstairs bathroom follows the very simple and clean layout of the remainder of the house. A round patterned background adds chaos inside the contemporary layout.

Kara Mosher

Beckett’s room includes a painted silhouette of the Austin skyline, with moveable automobiles and clouds he can place along the scene. Laurie chose grey because the neutral paint colour to permit for her to include pops of colour to get a gender-neutral nursery in the future.

Beckett was a baby throughout the building and design process, that made the experience of dreaming up their new house a little more challenging. Laurie says,”We still poured so much effort and time into thinking during our layout and were very grateful to have our great team.”

Crib: Babyletto

Kara Mosher

Simple elegance is observed once again in an upstairs bathroom. The petite blue tiled bathtub produces a soft feel near the black edges of the window treatment.

Kara Mosher

A creative touch to the upstairs hall is a repurposed Ikea clothesline hanger, used to showcase family photos.

Kara Mosher

The pool house is easy and peaceful. The rectangular area opens up confronting the pool. The brown leather chairs provide a sharp contrast to the walls, and offer a cozy alternative to somebody not wanting to swim. The wooden seat was a treasure Laurie uncovered at an Austin antique store.

Laurie states:”The time necessary to design and build exactly what you want is worth it. You don’t wish to hurry to purchase fill-in things such as art or furniture. You’ll appreciate them if you find just what talks to you.”

Kara Mosher

Their home was featured in the 2011 American Institute of Architects Austin Homes tour. As Laurie’s friends say,”It’s the ideal playdate house!” With twins expected that spring, the Currys possess a superb space prepared to welcome them.

More:
Colorfully Collected in Austin
Austin Haven with Amazing Views
Ignore and Soothing in Austin

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Color Your Home's View With Stained Glass

Several years back, I lived in a Craftsman-style home. The home was built in 1902 on a wonderful street in Pasadena, California. I made several upgrades to the home, trying to preserve its integrity while at exactly the same time making it convenient for life together with my little children. Additions I made to the home comprised two beautiful stained glass windows from the family area. I had the chimney commissioned from the late Roy Little, a renowned stained glass artist in the San Francisco Bay Area.

We had good fun during the conceptual process. I asked him to make two ginko trees that felt architectural as well as suitable for the style of the home. He didn’t disappoint with the two windows. They were my favorite things in the entire home. We moved a few years later because together with the arrival of my third child, we simply grew from the home. I considered carrying those windows because I loved them so much better. At the conclusion they remained because I decided they didn’t belong to me ; they jumped to the home.

Stained glass is such an intriguing art form. How the colored glass captures the lighting can be very magical. Additionally, there are endless applications of stained glass in a home. Let us have a look at just how designers are employing this art form in their designs.

Siemasko + Verbridge

A perfect complement to this wine-tasting room, these stained glass windows look like the base of wine bottles in a variety of shades of green opaque glass.

Siemasko + Verbridge

Why not add a little whimsy above a doorway? Note how the beach colours here bounce right from the crisp white of the walls. What a great way to establish a tone and palette for a home.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Stained glass windows are fantastic for bathrooms because they let in light but afford privacy when you require it. No demand for window treatments in this fantastic bathroom.

Signature Design & Cabinetry LLC

Create a focal point and motif with stained glass. The subject matter for a window is limited only by imagination. This bath window is the main attraction while at precisely the same time developing a Zen-like encounter.

Only Joh

The stained glass window in this stately room offers beautiful filtered light and solitude for the window seat. A fantastic alternative for privacy requirements, stained glass is beautiful and functional. Notice how the signature of green from the window is replicated in the fabrics.

Neuhaus Design Architecture, P.C.

This is a intelligent detail for this particular grandly scaled dining area. The accession of a clear and opaque stained glass transom affirms the palette and also the size of this room. Stained glass that includes pattern and not color can be great for a neutral area that already boasts great architectural information.

James Witt Homes

A hallmark of this Craftsman design, a grand entrance door is made even more stunning with the addition of a collection of stained glass scenes. This is a perfect and authentic application of stained glass for the Craftsman design.

RWA Architects

Stained glass can also be integrated into light. As sunlight lights up the colours of a stained glass window, a backlit stained glass lighting fixture lights up this entrance.

Clayton&Little Architects

A really application of glass. I might try to squeeze in an extra shower every day with this fantastic bathroom. Notice the stained glass inside the shower as well as about the entrance doors to the shower. This is a superb concept that will work for a oversized shower, especially fitting for Spanish or Victorian style.

HartmanBaldwin Design/Build

How about these interior doors? What a statement these doorways produce with beautiful stained glass inserts. There is no demand for a whole lot of detail in the rest of the room with doors such as these.

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Regional Design: Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry

If there’s one thing designers and builders in South Carolina’s Lowcountry agree, it’s the hot and humid weather has always been a major influence on design, no matter what the style. “Conventional South Carolina Lowcountry houses were developed to buffer the harsh, hot, humid climate,” states Jane Frederick of Frederick + Frederick Architects. “To take advantage of the summertime Southern breezes, the houses had tall ceilings for the heat to grow and porches on the south to color the inside and generate a place of respite from the heat.”

While “Lowcountry” calls to mind double-stacked porches shaded by live oaks dripping in Spanish moss, facing side yards in downtown Charleston, these gorgeous traditional houses are not the only way around. “The beauty of the Lowcountry is that it allows a number of styles to flourish authentically,” states Amy Luff of Margaret Donaldson Interiors. So, Luff declares, “The Lowcountry is a fantastic place to call home.”

Christopher A Rose AIA

“Something which produces a design clearly Lowcountry is the use of piazzas or porches,” says architect Chris Rose. “These make the most of our light seasons to enjoy the view or garden and color the house from sunlight.”

Frederick + Frederick Architects

1 distinctive Lowcountry design move that never goes out of design is a raised first floor. “The first floors were lifted off the floor to keep the floodwaters and allowing breezes to circulate beneath the home,” explains Frederick.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

“They were just one area wide to maximize the flow of air and to increase the quantity of lighting to cut down on mould and mildew,” says Frederick.

Other identifying Lowcountry architectural styles include the Charleston- style home with all the narrow end facing the road and the porch on the south, as well as the Beaufort-style T-shaped home: one area thick, using a porch wrap three sides.

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Frederick has looked to the past to inspire green design today. “As people are more interested in sustainable design, we are turning into the lessons learned from the vernacular traditions. A few years ago we started exploring other Southern vernacular types, particularly the dogtrot, which will be two legends with an open breezeway between,” she states.

The area above occupies the breezeway of a dogtrot home. Frederick finds that “dogtrot” is one of the most popular search phrases that leads potential clients to the business’s website.

Alix Bragg Interior Design

Lowcountry design is in the smaller details. “There are many things which produce a house clearly Charleston, but the shutters are exactly what does it on this house,” says interior designer Alix Bragg. “The old-school style of the louvered shutters (painted Charleston green) is a staple in the Lowcountry. Of course, the palm trees and metal roof give it away also!”

Watch the rest of this home

Walsh Krowka & Associates

Tom Krowka of Walsh Krowka and Associates makes notice of another identifying Lowcountry porch detail: “Big porches and overhangs shield living or windows areas from the harsh sun.”

Walsh Krowka & Associates, Inc

A lot of the structure responds to sinking cool atmosphere and rising hot air. “Tall ceilings and spaces allow for air flow and maintain the warmest air farthest away from people in the ground level,” states Krowka. “Many old houses had double-hung windows — the aim was to open the floor and top partway. Cool air comes in at the base; warm air goes out the surface.”

Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.

“A misconception is that Lowcountry design is all the same,” says Courtney Windham of Wayne Windham Architects. “There are lots of variations of Lowcountry architecture — formal, relaxed, farmhouse design, Barbados/tropical, modern and more.”

Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.

No matter what the design, South Carolina Lowcountry design has a strong connection to the outdoors and ample outdoor living spaces, states Windham.

Wayne Windham Architect, P.A.

“Porches are becoming bigger and wider to expand outdoor living. Roll-down screens and mosquito misting systems are also being integrated to produce these spaces [more] flexible/enjoyable,” she states.

The way to banish the bugs from your porch

Allison Ramsey Architects

Cooter Ramsey of Allison Ramsey Architects concurs. “Even through the holidays, grillin’ and chillin’ is a frequent event in the Lowcountry. Our outdoor spaces are essential for your quality of life we like to reside in the South, therefore a fantastic home in the Lowcountry has got the capability to maneuver outside at every chance.”

Allison Ramsey Architects

“Sometimes we need our rooms to feel as the exterior so much, we will fill in a porch to reach it,” says Ramsey. “This is a picture of a good keeping room that’s a kitchen off. The windows and ceiling have been treated similar to those on a converted porch.”

Allison Ramsey Architects

“This also works nicely on the exterior of the home, giving it an appearance that the home has evolved over time,” explains Ramsey. “It’s a great trick to use to break down the bulk of a home and to make it fit better on its own site.”

Bill Huey + Associates

Architect Bill Huey looks to the past and the future when designing for the Lowcountry today. “A current fad, and the new norm, would be to wed the traditional Southern details which have historically been built using timber with more contemporary materials. A good instance of this would be the use of HardieShingle, HardieBoard and HardieTrim (pictured on the home), since its life is a lot longer than traditional materials when exposed to the harsh, polluted atmosphere of the South Carolina Lowcountry.”

WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC

Many of double-stacked porches include a distinguishing detail you are going to have to look around see. “Another traditional Lowcountry detail is your haint blue ceiling, which has a rich background here and remains found on the majority of porches,” states Jeff Thomas of WaterMark Coastal Homes.

WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC

“We are also seeing a trend of more modern twists on the standard Lowcountry home, where clean, simple lines replace the more traditional details,” states Thomas. “They still have the classic Lowcountry features of deep porches and overhangs, but they have been stripped into their more fundamental elements. I think most men and women think contemporary and Lowcountry don’t necessarily go together, but we are definitely beginning to see otherwise.”

WaterMark Coastal Homes, LLC

Here is a good example of a modern spin on the Lowcountry tradition. “It still has the double porch and deep overhangs, but spins the traditional particulars. The arches around the second-floor porch are a reference back into the arches often found on historical houses throughout Charleston and the Lowcountry,” states Thomas.

Sandra Ericksen Design

Taking a closer look inside, interior designers allow us know what makes a space distinctly Lowcountry and also let us know about the most recent trends. “I enjoy the interplay of traditional, often formal antiques utilised in casual, even beachy rooms,” says interior designer Sandra Ericksen. “You often see Chippendale pieces which are whitewashed or worn and still working beautifully alongside slipcovered upholstery.”

“Style is so important in the South,” states Ericksen, “and having your house work in the most appropriate and casual situation is a must. We throw parties frequently! By using formal pieces alongside furnishings which are not as precious, you make your house more versatile.”

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

A misconception about design in the Lowcountry is the fact that it’s stuffy and traditional. “The Lowcountry because we know it in Charleston, South Carolina, is exciting and moving forward while respecting the past,” says Luff. “We are not afraid to throw in some midcentury pieces or a contemporary coffee table.”

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

“A fashion, along with the remainder of the nation, is your idea of repurposing, whether it’s repurposing old barn wood to develop into a dining table or recovering your grandma’s wingback in a wild fabric to update the design,” Luff states.

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

Luff describes several types of homes found in the Lowcountry. “Barefoot beach houses are observed on Sullivan’s Island and Folly Beach, and hark back to the glory days where life was slower. Frequently one-story with a large front porch, these houses are the epitome of a Lowcountry summer retreat. With simpler furnishings, relaxed finishes and maybe a whitewashed floor, your blood pressure drops as soon as you kick off your shoes in the door.”

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

“With the abundance of neighboring islands (Johns Island, Wadmalaw and down into the Ace Basin), the Lowcountry is evenly distinguished by marsh houses and country houses. These houses nestle into the encompassing live oak trees and collaborate with their environment in colour and feel,” says Luff. “The interior colors are pulled from character with soft neutrals, greens, blues and grays. Frequently you will find custom-made case merchandise from reclaimed wood. These homes tend to focus on the idea of filling the home with friends and family — relaxation and a quiet elegance”

Margaret Donaldson Interiors

“The coastal house is your very trend-oriented yet timeless type of home. Charleston and the Lowcountry possessed the concept of the coastal home before the publications took the trend nationwide,” Luff states. She includes elements of this look as “all-white living rooms, turquoise and blue, driftwood and glass lamps.”

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Could Your Home Help Your Kid Be an Olympian?

A tug-at-your-heartstrings “Thank you, Mom” commercial airing during the Olympics celebrates the dedication of sports moms all over the world. It got me thinking, what if you could set the stage for sports right at home to nurture budding swimmers, gymnasts, archers or sailors? Who knows, perhaps these improvements in the residence will ignite your child’s inner Olympian. In the minimum, they set the stage for pleasure, active days, which is really the point, isn’t it?

Koch Architects, Inc.. Joanne Koch

Precision, endurance and strength are necessary in the Olympic sport of trampoline and synchronized diving. Allow the kids reverse and jump onto a subground trampoline in the garden such as this one, and they are well on their way to activity-filled summertime under the sun — and possibly to the 2024 Summer Olympics.

LLC, Taylormade Landscapes

The proprietors of the traditional home in Nevada installed an in-ground trampoline amid their yard’s synthetic turf — ideal for future Olympians and glancing to the neighbor’s backyard.

Harold Leidner Landscape Architects

Some see a well-manicured lawn that is just right for entertaining. However, I see a perfect place to perform cartwheels, sprints and maybe even enough room to prepare target archery practice.

Menter Byrne Architects

This shed-turned-pavilion for household activities makes the household room enjoyable and would satisfy any thrill-seeking girl or boy. Those ring sets could really do wonders for another Olympic gymnast.

Ryan Lochte, 2012 gold medalist, began swimming at a young age as a result of his dad, a swim coach. Lucky for the Lochtes, they spent almost all of their time in Florida, where there are loads of indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

For those proprietors of the contemporary Seattle home, an indoor pool is a better alternative for the weather of Washington state.

Perianth Interior Design

This Park Avenue kids’ bedroom includes loads of built-in storage space for books, trophies and toys. In addition, it has a rock-climbing wall, a punching bag and a miniature basketball court.

If the room doesn’t cultivate a little Olympian in the creating, then in the minimum, the boys residing in the space are certain to be active and have fun.

decordemon

Women’s boxing has experienced a challenging journey to the Olympic stadium, yet this year 36 girls will compete in a sport usually earmarked for its glorification of men’s power and body.

This stunning bag corner at an Atlanta loft’s home gym has broad appeal; the concrete floor and dark colors speak a manly language, but the tufted leather seat with cabriole legs and gloves on top softens the space and lends a feminine touch. The fitness center could work for both Mom and Dad — and what better way to demonstrate the kids sex equality than letting both parents take a look at the handbag?

The football mural above these beds acts as a sort of fantasy catcher for the boys in this contemporary New York kids’ bedroom. As many athletes understand, imagining the following goal, ideal landing or record-setting swim is essential.

Kate Markham-Zantvoort

The builders of the multisport court, a part of a large contemporary home in Vancouver, have given active minds and lifestyles distinct sporting options. Basketball and volleyball will be the clear sports to play here, but the area also creates a fantastic miniature handball arena.

More:
Set Rooms Racing With Olympics Style Decor
Make Your Home a Champion Olympics Viewing Platform

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8 Modern Dressing Tables for Unflouncy Women

For many women, having a well-lit space for applying make-up is a necessity. If your toilet lacks sufficient lighting, a dressing table may be your solution.

I’ve been contemplating adding a dressing table to my bedroom because we moved a couple of weeks ago. My new master bath is dim, but my bedroom receives ample all-natural light, and that I enjoy the idea of owning a nice space dedicated to pampering myself somewhat.

While many grooming tables are fussy, frilly or just too sour for my taste, here I’ve gathered some of my favourite modern-looking dressing tables to share with you. Whether you are planning to set up a dressing table in your bedroom, in the bathroom or near, these notions will surely inspire your own space.

1 2 1 S T U D I O . C O M

If you are watching out for a dressing table and crave sleek lines, then the deco design of the table shown here, using its wood finish and simple design, speaks to those of us using a contemporary taste.

Websites like Craigslist just may provide a piece in this way at a fraction of the cost you would pay for a brand new dressing table.

Michael Abrams Limited

This dressing table in a room adjacent to the bedroom is glamorous without being fussy. If you are considering using a similar set up to your dressing area, painting the 2 spaces the exact same color will unify the rooms.

Rethink Design Studio

If you crave color, consider purchasing a classic dressing table and painting it to fit your needs. If a matching chair isn’t included in the deal, buy one that matches nicely with the dining table and then paint it to match.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

The large mirror hung over this dressing table not only overlooks the dining table, but it reflects that the pretty room outside.

Griffin Enright Architects

The stunning all-natural light in this toilet makes it the ideal space for a little dressing table.

Cablik Enterprises

Medicine cabinet–fashion mirrors over the dressing table provide storage and give this dressing table a built in look.

Alexander Johnson Photography

A dressing table chair is the best place for a pleasant, bright splash of color.

Sharp Design

If your want to keep matters symmetrical, upholstering the dressing table chair at precisely the exact same shade as the wall will make a very simple statement.

More:
How to Outfit Your Own Dressing Table

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