Category: Decorating Guides

A fiery orange tepee and an electric classic sign light up a playroom, a living plant wall curtains over a freestanding tub and 60-year-old Monterey pines grow in a stylish living room. This house of wonders is not your ordinary homeowner’s house — it is the 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase in an 8,000-square-foot Georgian mansion at San Francisco’s Pacific Heights neighborhood.

This year’s showcase highlights the talents of 27 designers in 24 individual display spaces. The chambers show off the designers’ abilities, pushing the limits and displaying their creativity. A gorgeous penthouse spa, a candy chocolatier’s lab and a tiny writer’s retreat are just a couple more things you’ll find behind this historical mansion’s doors. Here are a few of our favourite spaces from this year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase.

2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase
Dates: April 27 to May 27
Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to seven p.m.; Sunday and Memorial Day, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tickets: $30 general admission; $25 for seniors; available at the door or Internet
More information

Playroom: “Danger Zone”
Designer: Martha Angus and Eche Martinez

Taking to heart the thought that each kid is a artist, Martha Angus and Eche Martinez turned among the home’s living rooms into an incredible playroom filled with fun and colour at each turn. A glowing orange baby alpaca tepee, foam-filled furniture out of Art Basel, a vintage sign above the fireplace and light fixtures made out of Kid Robot toys are lively elements that could work only in a bold room similar to this. Windows that had an unfortunate opinion were covered up with stick-on displays. A box filled with fake dynamite adds one final over-the-top twist.

Faux bois painting: Katherine Jacobus; window treatments: inkjet print on vinyl, Quick Signs; sconces: custom, Martha Angus and Eche Martinez, Urban Electric; chairs, stools: Maarten de Ceulaer, Industry Gallery; artwork above fireplace: Charles James Gallery

Living Room
Designer: Heather Hilliard

The first oak paneling and herringbone flooring help warm up Heather Hilliard’s bold black and white design for this dining room. A hand-rolled porcelain chandelier catches the eye and provides a gentle touch to the area’s picture lines. Cardboard sculptures by Ann Weber complement Hilliard’s custom treatment on the walls above the pine panels.

Pendant: Bocci; seat fabric: Christian Fischbacher; lamp: Habité LA; seat fabric: Holland & Sherry; andirons: Tuell + Reynolds; sconces: Soane Britain; chairs, table, console: custom

Master Toilet: “A Sacred Space to Bathe”
Designer: Síol Studios

A living wall at the home bathroom — which Kevin Hackett and Jessica Weigley designed as a “healing wall” — retains a lush range of blossoms, geraniums and mosses. A watering system trickles down the wall to maintain the fragrant bursts of lavender and mint fresh.

Family Kitchen
Designer: Alison Davin, Jute Style

The house used for this year’s display was built from the early 19th century, so the kitchen is tucked to the back and beneath each of the principal rooms. Since this isn’t how folks live today, designer Alison Davin aimed to create a space that a family would love to assemble in. Beams, herringbone floors, a fireplace and other architectural elements make this kitchen feel like a comfy and natural expansion of another living spaces. Dark navy cabinets offer unexpected contrast to the beech counter tops. Terra-cotta tile in Ann Sacks adds a more contemporary element on the counter tops.

Wall paint: White Dove, Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Simply White, Benjamin Moore; cabinetry paint: Midnight Blue, Benjamin Moore; window treatments: Osborne & Little; sconces: Urban Electric; pendants: Remains; tile: Ann Sacks; artwork: Serena Bocchino

Salon
Designer: Matthew Leverone

Potted 60-year-old Monterey pines create a dramatic statement in this otherwise calm and gathered space. Layers of textures in the velvet sofa, hand-knotted Moroccan rug, silk cushions and leather seat make the glowing space feel soft and warm. The Monterey pines, planted in cement planters, make the space feel a part of this garden just outside.

Sconce: Jonathan Browning; all of furniture: custom designed by Leverone Design; rug: vintage

Living Room
Designer: Catherine Kwong

The striking floor at the home’s main living room — inspired by Cy Twombly’s iconic function — sets the scene for this easy and elegant space. Stancil Studios covered the ground in a rich navy with bold, sporadic white brushstrokes topped with a transparent varnish. Designer Catherine Kwong kept the rest of the room cool and easy to draw attention to the ground. The first ceiling keeps architectural interest, while the slightly feminine but contemporary furniture adds to the area’s understated advantage.

Fringe lights: vintage, Mario YagI; black and white photograph: Henry Leutwyler; window treatments: Georgina Rice; paint: Pratt & Lambert

Writer’s Retreat
Designer: Kriste Michelini

Working together with the complex slanted ceiling inside this area was not simple, but by having a white foundation for her colour palette, designer Kriste Michelini made extra visual space. White grass cloth walls by Phillip Jeffries and a whitewashed floor blur the borders between the two surfaces and reflect the minimal all-natural light coming from the single window. The built-in platform bed with colorful customized cushions stands out from eclectic wallpaper from Elitis.

Pendant: Alabax, Schoolhouse Electric; skull: Ashley Tudor; wallpaper: Brit Pop, Elitis; table lamp: Barbara Barry, Baker; runner: DwellStudio; cushions: custom and Caitlin Wilson; desk, seat: Ironies

Soaking Bath
Designers: Willem Racké and Emilie Munroe

Although designers Willem Racké and Emilie Munroe understood the mirrors covering the walls of the bathroom had to go, they didn’t want to deal with the mess and chaos that would include a demolition. So Racké painted large parts of canvas in his studio and had them applied to the mirrored walls, leaving a few select spots available for flashes of mirror. Munro worked together with local company Dogfork Lamp Arts to look the chandelier. From the hallway looking in, each light looks like a bubble floating in the atmosphere.

Chair: Coup d’Etat; accessories: Sue Fisher King; carpet: Flor

Teen Girl’s Room
Designer: Applegate Tran Interiors

Designer Gioi Tran made this room with a specific character in mind: an artistic teenage girl rebelling from a beauty-queen mother. The bold room carries an edgy approach to normal “princess” decor. A map of London on the ceiling inspires dreams of traveling, faux-finished walls add abstract colour and a customized mattress is wrapped with string.

Desk, nightstands, bed, dog bed, desk stool: Applegate Tran Furniture; couch chair, nightstand lamps: Coup d’Etat; headboard fabric: Elitis; mattress linens: Kearsley; accessories: Paxton Gate; decorative painting: Willem Racké; floor tiles: Armin Maier

Dressing Room
Designer: Shelley Cahan

Just within the teenage girl’s room (previous photograph), designer Shelley Cahan used a mix of vintage and contemporary elements to create a lively dressing room. Kravet geometric wallpaper came first, dictating the rest of the plan. A Sozo Studio custom closet system is covered in herringbone fabric with a laminate finish for additional visual texture. A vintage-inspired light from Arteriors pays tribute to the home’s authentic style.

Artwork: Lost Art Salon; seat, side table: Ironies

Maker’s Mark Retreat
Designer: Kelly Hohla, Jeffers Design Group

A mix of materials marks this room, designed as a joint study. Beginning with a custom wood credenza by New York artist Michael Coffey, designer Kelly Hohla used amazing Holland & Sherry fabrics and a gorgeous machine-cut hide wall by Kyle Bunting to add subtle texture. The area combines vintage and contemporary, and feminine and masculine, elements to create an inspirational workspace.

Wools, linens: Holland & Sherry; vintage chairs: Coup d’Etat; hide and hair wall: Kyle Bunting; credenza: Michael Coffey; lamps: Herve van der Straeten

Garden Courtyard: “Birds of Prey”
Designer: Davis Dalbok and Brandon Pruett, Living Green

Using artwork outdoors is surprising, but that’s often what makes a courtyard work. Davis Dalbok and Brandon Pruett of Living Green worked with Jane Richardson Mack to put six pieces of an antique Japanese screen in silver-leafed glass, shown here at the top right of this photograph. The images of Asian birds of prey on the displays helped create the frame for the rest of the garden.

There was minimal planting space in the courtyard, therefore Dalbok and Pruett used all of the vertical space they could. Each living wall explodes with conifers, maples, mosses, collectible Japanese maples and uncommon tiny baobab-type trees. Dyeing the gray concrete with a warmer terra-cotta colour made the patio feel more industrial and more natural.

Felted marble planter: Luciano Tempo; cement planter: Kimberlee Keswick; artwork installation: Jane Richardson-Mack; living walls system: Flora Felt; chairs: Michael Taylor

Master Living Room
Designer : Zoe Hsu

Before she had claimed her room from the showhouse, designer Zoe Hsu desired to use this gemsbok horn chandelier in her design. The piece includes a primitive look that complements the Schumacher snakeskin wallpaper in this sitting room. The space is created for someone to transition from getting ready in the morning at the vanity at the corner enjoying a glass of wine at nighttime in front of the fireplace.

Chandelier: Coup d’Etat; wallpaper: Schumacher; ottoman: custom; mirror, sconces: Ironies; fireplace rock: All Natural Stone

Master Bedroom
Designer: Philip Silver

Designer Philip Silver uses an Eastern philosophy in his interior designs; no major piece of furniture sits against a wall. Rather the mattress’s lavish headboard and a silver screen form a passageway in the spacious bedroom to the adjoining master bath. Holland & Sherry fabrics and plush Michaelian & Kohlberg rugs make for a soft and sumptuous sleeping area.

Bed linens: Frette; unwanted tables: Gary Hutton; dividers: Hartmann & Forbes; glass lamps: Jan Showers; mirror screen: Niermann Weeks; mattress suite: Ted Boerner

Atelier
Designer: Antonio Martins

Designer Antonio Martins turned into this upstairs corner right to an elegant take on a guy cave. Martins watched the owner of the house for a lover and collector of antiques — especially old tools. A wall covered with old carpenter planes and boxes filled with classic tools only hint at the start of the collection. Fundamental materials help to maintain the upgraded man-cave vibe. The walls are upholstered with burlap, and the wood-framed floors are inlaid with metal tiles.

Woodwork: Fabian Fine Furniture; acacia bookshelf lamp: Fuse Lighting; seat: Phoenix, Johanna Spilman; burlap installment: Troy H Maher Wallcovering

Atelier Alcove
Designer: Jaimie Belew

Inspired by Alexander McQueen and the San Francisco ballet, designer Jaimie Belew created a magical drawing space to stoke imagination. Toning down ballet’s typical pink into a warm gleam, Belew custom designed a desk with acrylic drawer fronts and a bronze glass top. Luminescent trim adds an extra glow. Linen-upholstered walls (which also serve as built-in bulletin boards) and parquet marble floors add welcome all-natural touches.

Water Closet
Designer: Kelley Flynn

The design of the black and white fabric wall covering emulates the crown shape of this chandelier. Along with the upholstered walls, a wallpapered ceiling and a mosaic marble floor emanate restrained luxury in this powder room. A hand-forged table by Shawn Lovell Metalworks provides a fairly shelf in a small space.

Chandelier: Julie Neill; wall fabric: Fern Tree, Schumacher’s Kelly Wearstler collection; absolute window covering: Great Plains; wallpaper: Sloane Stripe, Ralph Lauren; floors: tile, Artistic Tile

Penthouse Retreat and Terrace
Designer: Karen Villanueva

Designer Karen Villanueva began her penthouse design together with the stunning city view as inspiration. Bringing in natural elements, soft palate grays and natural tones helped develop a calming region that’s ideal to a spa break. Two massage tables fit perfectly, but they can fold up easily to create room for yoga and meditation.

Guest Bathroom: “Elysium”
Designer: Alfredo Gregory

To create a toilet free of constraints, designer Alfredo Gregory removed as many walls as possible. The consequent open-concept area was created so that every item can get moist. Unlike paint, cement walls and a weathered plaster ceiling will not peel or fade with time. Encaustic cement floor tile out of Waterworks is crackproof. Gregory also custom designed a cement sink, a light fixture and a contemporary toilet to complete the room.

Chocolatier’s Laboratory
Designer: Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt

This narrow space between the kitchen and the main hall was once a butler’s pantry, attached to the main dining room through a swinging door. Inspired by her family’s love of cooking and producing candies, designer Stephanie Marsh Fillbrandt created a chocolatier’s lab. Custom cantilevered glass shelving holds equipment for distilling syrups and sugars. Gray cabinetry and durable hardware contrast with the cool white Calacatta marble counter.

Shelves, window: Bonny Doon Art Glass; Granite: Brown Felicetta; fabric: Coraggio; hardware: EM Hundley; marble: IRG; Paint: Pratt & Lambert; carpet: Stark

The 2013 San Francisco Decorator Showcase runs April 27 to May 27. More information

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If you are planning to make changes to your whole house, while it’s all at once, or with time, it is worth it to come armed with a strategy to maintain the look consistent. In this series we’ll be rounding up thoughts and inspiration for updating fixtures, finishes and much more to create the look you desire. We’re starting with a bevvy of thoughts for a cottage-style remodel, so if a cheerful, new cabin is what you are thinking about, you have arrived at the right location.

Wettling Architects

Cottage cheer begins at the front gate, so that is where we’ll begin our quest of remodeling for cabin style. A classic white picket fence or very low rock wall and lush garden are cabin musts.

Ballard Designs

Charleston 1-Light Outdoor Lantern – $199

Try a pair of lantern-style sconces on the porch. Curvy lines and seeded glass give this wall lantern from Ballard Designs a vintage look that would be at home in any cabin.

Pottery Barn

Envelope Mailbox, Vintage Brass end – $49

This envelope mailbox is equally charming and functional — the ideal accent for a cabin porch.

Or try this: A rural mailbox on a place in the yard close to the picket fence would be a classic choice.

Anthropologie

Woodpecker Knocker – $40

Finish off your entrance doorway using an enjoyable knocker, like this woodpecker knocker from Anthropologie. Not every home style can pull off a cute and unique detail like this, but in case you’ve got a cute cabin, go for it!

Or try this: Keep it classic with a conventional door knocker to add polish.

Kate Jackson Design

When buying cabin style, think fresh, cheerful and light. You can’t go wrong with classic cream or white paint, great wood floors and beadboard on walls or ceilings.

Pottery Barn

Hundi Handblown Glass 3-light Lantern, Bronze finish – $279

A beautiful yet easy glass pendant lighting like this one from Pottery Barn would function well in a cabin dining area. It’s large enough to make a statement, but the crystal clear glass means it won’t overwhelm.

Or try this: Utilize a woven or rattan pendant to add textural appeal.

www.homedepot.com

Classic white beadboard wainscoting using a simple seat rail and base molding may give a room which quintessential cabin look.

Cymax

Filmore Full Dummy Knob Set, Polished Brass – $93.77

Doorknobs could be small, but details like these can make all the difference. Stunning crystal knobs like this one would improve interior doors with vintage charm.

www.lowes.com

These cut-glass knobs from Lowe’s are a great budget-friendly choice, providing you with the expression of crystal in a much more reasonable price.

www.houseofantiquehardware.com

White porcelain knobs are another cabin classic. The budget conscious can search out ceramic knobs for a similar look.

Group 3

To get a charming cottage-style bath, choose fixtures and finishes with vintage flair. A pedestal sink, a claw-foot tub and classic subway tile are trendproof.

Restoration Hardware

Cartwright Inset Medicine Cabinet – $249

If your cabin bath is sporting fixtures from a different (tackier) decade, bring it back to its original glory with attractively simple pieces like this inset medicine cabinet from Restoration Hardware. It will look like it has been there forever.

Pottery Barn

Quinn Beaded Dual Sconce – $129

This dual sconce would seem subtly tasteful hung.

Vintage Tub & Bath

Lutezia 27-Inch Pedestal Lavatory Sink by Porcher

A pedestal sink is a can’t-miss classic for a cottage-style toilet. This one from Vintage Tub & Bath is especially handsome.

The Home Depot

Metro Hex Glossy White Porcelain Mosaic Floor and Wall Tile – $5.95

White hexagonal tiles are a timeless flooring alternative for a cabin bath. They seem right at home paired with subway tile or beadboard wainscoting.

Vintage Tub & Bath

72-Inch Classic Clawfoot Tub by Randolph Morris

If you’ve got the space, a classic claw-foot tub can become the star of this bathroom. If you are bargain hunting, try out a local salvage yard for a refurbished vintage tub rather than buying new.

Restoration Hardware

Century Ceramic Hooks – $14

It’s the details that count — hang a smart hook behind the door for stowing extra towels or robes along with course.

Kate Jackson Design

The kitchen is the heart and soul of a cottage-style house. Think sun streaming in through the windows, vintage-inspired light fixtures, cheerful and breezy colours, and unfussy surfaces. And obviously a tiny beadboard never hurts.

Erotas Building Corporation

Schoolhouse-inspired lighting, butcher block, wood floors and easy cabinetry, together with some open shelving, are crucial to the cabin kitchen.

Barn Light Electric Company

Sinclair Draftsman Porcelain Pendant – $175

Thanks to its shape and beautiful mint-green color, this porcelain pendant light from the Barn Light Electric Company would look great hanging over a breakfast corner or island.

Schoolhouse Electric

Wilamette 6 Pendant Light – $129

For a timeless schoolhouse look, you can’t beat these bracelets from Schoolhouse Electric.

KnobsandHardware

Top Knobs M12 Dakota Cup Pull – $6.21

For cabinet hardware pick something easy and straightforward. I like the look and texture of these timeless bin pulls.

Rejuvenation

1 1/2-Inch Hexagonal Glass Knob, Nickel-Plated Bolt – $6

Accent kitchen drawers and cabinets with these petite knobsthat have the look of vintage milk glass.

IKEA

Värde Countertop – $130

Ikea butcher block counters are inexpensive, warm, functional and perfectly suited to some cabin kitchen.

Faucet

Rohl Handcrafted, Single-Basin, Fireclay, Apron-Front Farmhouse Kitchen Sink – $1,530

Splurge in an apron-front farmhouse sink from Rohl — it is that the classic and could become the centerpiece of your cabin kitchen. Pair it with a vintage-inspired gooseneck faucet.

ANN SACKS

Ceramic Basics Capriccio Tile, White Gloss

White subway tile makes a chic and inexpensive backsplash. This is such a common item, you should be able to find a great deal on it from a number of manufacturers in any given local building supply store.

Tyler Morris Woodworking

Shelf Brackets – $18

Cottage kitchens are usually on the smallish side. Open yours up by replacing a number of the upper cabinets with open shelving. Simple wooden mounts like these may be painted to match your wall color.

IKEA

Ekby Tony/Ekby Stilig Wall Shelf – $36.99

These simple wall shelves from Ikea are a great, quick choice for adding storage into the kitchen.

Or try this: White Carrara marble shelves could make a luxurious addition to a cabin kitchen.

Jessica Helgerson Interior Design

Tell us Are you currently renovating a cabin? Have any resources to share? Join the conversation!

More: So Your Design is: Cottage

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Statement chandeliers, soft colour palettes and comfortable seating ruled the most popular dining spaces on over the last year. Each of these elegant rooms has a distinct ambience — and users liked different components in each one. Whether it’s comfortable furniture, bold accents or lasting material choices, something from 2012’s most popular dining rooms may get an idea or two to your own home, too.

Here are the dining area photos added to most users’ ideabooks in 2012. Obviously, this is only a smattering of the most popular dining area images on . Visit the photos page to navigate for the best dining area ideas for your personal style.

LLC & Sons, Ellen Grasso

1. Gold and turquoise in Texas. readers loved the daring statement the designer made with the curves of the chairs, table and chandelier, in addition to the texture offered from the antiqued mirror and blue walls.

D&D Interiors / Mikhail Dantes

2. Contemporary open fireplace in Denver. A double-sided fireplace both separates and joins the dining and living rooms within this ranch home. The mix of stone tiles on the floor and fireplace complements the shell chandelier — a combination ers loved.

Michael Abrams Limited

3. Simple and spacious in Chicago. Blue was a favorite colour for dining rooms on this year, including this traditional space. Contrasting paint brings attention to the details of the trim.

Peterssen/Keller Architecture

4. Midcentury Modern in Minnesota. Upholstered chairs bring the blue into this dining area. The pendant chandelier helps to tie in the glistening starburst mirror and deco table lamp.

The Anderson Studio of Architecture & Design

5. Beachfront viewpoints in South Carolina. Sometimes an incredible view is all that is required to decorate a room. The Atlantic Ocean ordered this room’s shore style — by the rattan chairs to the worn wooden dining table.

Linda McDougald Design | Postcard from Paris Home

6. New traditional in South Carolina. Paneled siding painted a soft palate combines traditional and contemporary elements in this dining area. While the furniture is stunning, ers saved this photo for all the architectural details, including the ceiling beams, trim and transom windows.

Splash Kitchens & Baths LLC

7. Entertainment friendly in Georgia. Ideal for entertaining, this kitchen layout feels welcoming and warm. Everything in the wine rack to the cheerful table setting, to the joyful wall artwork made this room ideabookworthy.

Brandon Architects, Inc..

8. Newport Beach neutrals. A dining area doesn’t have to be expansive to generate an effect, according to this simple space in California. Although the dining table and chairs do not occupy a whole lot of room, high-impact accents — drapes, drapes and wall artwork — make the space especially inspiring.

Fiorella Design

9. Cozy seating in California. ers adored the concept of eating in relaxation in 2012, so upholstered dining chairs were particularly common. These lavish white and pink chairs appear perfect for postmeal lounging.

Chalet

10. Rustic glam in Denver. Rustic materials unite with metallic accents in this dining room space. A fitting bench sits next to the table for a little additional seats — something many users noted in their ideabooks.

Next: Read more popular dining room photos or search for the style that you like best.

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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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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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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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If you have ever thought about creating a mood on your space, you may immediately have become the idea of painting the walls. This is a favorite and very simple method to set the mood, but construction materials can also define your own room’s design. Do not get me wrong — I’m all for using paint colors to bring personality to a room, but if you’re searching for something different and your budget permits it, attempt tile.

Nowadays, tile comes in a lot of fashions and finishes, and also the added plus is durability. With tile, you’re sure to find just what you are searching for.

Buckminster Green LLC

New rustic. This backsplash marries a rustic layout with contemporary colors. Along with stainless steel appliances, wood ceiling beams and soft colors on the walls and cabinets, the look is both new and rustic.

Christine Suzuki

Outdoorsy. Natural stone tile always displays character’s varying textures and tones of grey, taupe and brown. This look is a certain way to bring the outside in.

Brennan + Company Architects

Retro. Dark and white hexagonal tiles create a classic look that dates back to before World War II. All these tiles are seeing a resurgence, as a lot of people are restoring old homes and want to preserve the original materials.

Alex Amend Photography

Country. Big, rectangular tiles immediately create a down-home texture, particularly in the kitchen. This look makes me want to grab some flour and begin baking a pie!

Rachel Greathouse

Spanish. Terra cotta flooring tiles provide a room an amazing Spanish texture. An added bonus: If you reside in a climate that is warm, these tiles really are famous for helping to keep homes cool.

Carson Poetzl, Inc..

Inspirational. Switch your stairwell to a space that motivates you with each step. Tiles that are published with Bible verses and inspirational quotes can remind us to count our blessings.

Neiman Taber Architects

Futuristic. Tiles with a digital pattern can bring a taste of technologies and the future into our homes.

Narofsky Architecture + ways2design

Watery. A wall of blue glass tile is the next best thing to real water, and it’s a great way to make a spa texture to your bathroom.

More:
10 Top Tips for Obtaining Bathroom Tile Right

House Planning: How to Choose Tile

More guides to selecting and using tile

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Artist Can Ho Suh is making people think about the precarious idea of home. His latest work is a powder blue gable roof cabin, the 18th permanent sculpture commissioned by the Stuart Collection at the University of California, San Diego.

Suh, who came to the United States out of Seoul in 1991, needed to physically and mentally readjust to his new surroundings. The sensation of being plucked from this comfortable and familiar and sinking into a dizzying unknown environment is exactly what this installation-sculpture, “Fallen Star,” is all about.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

The house stinks half-lodged, half-perched on the rooftop of UC San Diego’s engineering construction.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

From afar, the house practically looks like a toy house, but its base is sound: The cabin conforms to California earthquake construction codes and is made to withstand winds of up to 100 mph.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

Suh, who wanted a New England backyard for the cottage’s outside grounds, worked closely together with landscaping company Spurlock Poirier. African boxwood, Golden Nuggets, snapdragons, creeping thyme and wisteria vines highlight the backyard.

“Like in many houses, we have added a cherry tomato here, a couple sunflowers there,” says Stuart Collection Director Mary Beebe.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

Smoke from the form of steam rises from the chimney throughout the day. Indoors, on the fireplace mantel, the picture frames even show photographs of people in the engineering college. Just the huge bookcase and desk are bolted to the ground, while the diverse mix of other furnishings sometimes slip toward the door, but quite slowly.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

This image lets us value the house’s tilt; it’s cantilevered at a 10 degree angle, whereas the interior hardwood flooring is tilted by 4 degrees.

Philipp Scholz Rittermann

Check out the home’s base from below can make any pedestrian walk a bit quicker for fear of it falling. But there’s no need to panic — that the house is permanently fastened to the building structure and will probably make an impact on generations of students to come.

Erik Jepsen/UC San Diego Publications

Suh (right), resides in London and today feels right at home in the cosmopolitan and diverse city. He is foregone “Fallen Star’s” cabin try to find a more straightforward modern space he shares with his wife and daughter.

For more information on “Fallen Star,” visit the Stuart Collection website.

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Wood dining seats are virtually a staple of any yard sale or flea-market. They are every where! But more frequently than not their design leaves something to be wanted.

Paint is an effective way to update a worn-out set, but that’s a significantly time consuming procedure usually entailing sanding and at least a layer or 2 of colour. However, this trick does not even need one complete coat of paint — it is more a shrug or a stole, really.

I do not know about you, but suddenly I am craving biscuits dunked in milk!

Ed Ritger Images

Tape the very top of your seats off and paint them a clear white, or go with peacock-blue, hot-pink or another brilliant colour for a visual impact. I really could see this trick trying to to unify a range of seats also.

Ed Ritger Images

They make the original set, which can not mesh nicely in this attic setting that is modern, instead seem right in the home.

More:
DIY: Make-Over Mis-Matched Eating Seats
More DIY jobs to use

Look no further in the event you have been hunting to get a colour blend which will entrance you with its wonderful splendor. Yellows and blues have arrived plus they look spectacular together. From lustrous and wealthy to delicate and delicate, the pair has a method of taking an area to another degree. Is it their connection as close- simply, or complements on the colour wheel their manner that is punchy? I am expecting to show blue and yellow appear to have an impact unlike any other, maybe not or if they’re accurate complements. Read to see the reason:

Debbie Basnett, Classic Scout Interiors

This royalblue sectional seems wonderful before the yellow window panels that are patterned. Oh, how fine it will be to have a lot of windows! Light makes this sofa shine that is dark.

Smith & Vansant Architects Computer

These stormy partitions can still just as much as the ochre can pull — similar to an accumulation of buttercups way over the field. These tones that are vibrant appear to stay in harmony rather than contend and possess a means of agreeing with each other.

I am actually attracted to the daring pool blue colour with this craft space peg board, as well as the yellowish accessories appear to be signified better than the other colours on the wall, don’t they?

Tip: if you’re fighting to bring stronger colours into your house, try introducing them in a craft or artwork place first since vivid colours appear to be more abundant in these kinds of configurations.

This yellowish seat and carpet that is blue take the phase in this room that is impersonal.

Add-Ons offer a simple strategy to to create the blueandyellow colour combo in your residence. Both of these work extremely well in this area that is black and white, however additionally they could possess precisely the same feel surrounded by gray or beige.

Not for the shy, this chamber is an actual showstopper. Those seats that are yellowish almost jump off the display. This special room will be ok with seats that complemented the dining table, but the inclusion of yellowish ups the ante to the variable that is artsy.

Caitlin Creer Interiordesign

The headboard that is gold feels right at residence alongside the lamp foundations that are blue. Close-neutral partitions allow these bedroom add-ons talk for themselves.

Elad Gonen

This ocean-blue wall generates a strong backdrop for the rows of lemon- seats. Panels that are dark perform together with hutch and the shadowy walls.

Smith & Vansant Architects Computer

These home-owners may have gotten away with any colour for his or her chairs, considering the fact that the siding is this kind of subtle hue of yellowish. The robin’s egg blue seats are not overly loud for this veranda that is relaxing and tranquil.

Hint: A blue and yellowish pairing can vary anywhere from exceptionally dynamic to tranquil. To make sure that it remains on the aspect that is softer, it is possible to use more colors.

Chelsea Atelier Architect, Computer

Maybe somewhat less clear as a number of the pictures, but the shower do-or is apparently a gradient of blue, which is super-cool by itself. Coupled using some cupboards that are yellowish, this bath remains thanks to assistance from the wonderful grey it is surrounded by that.

Dear Daisy Cottage

This close-primary-color palette slipped due to the usage of a perhaps not-therefore- azure that is main. I have ever been somewhat irked by the reddish-blue- combo, but that is rather the exception.

Hint: Even Though your family area could possibly appear to be a kindergarten class-room adorned in this colour group, it’ll feel quite welcome within an outside setting. Try something in this way in your porch or again deck this summer

More: See How a Ageold Instrument Can Assist You To Get the Proper Paint