Category: Eclectic Homes

Bobbing gently in the breeze, the Freefloating Ecolodge appears at more like a spacecraft than a spot for slumber parties. However, this contemporary floating arrangement can hold up to ten people through the day also has four cozy beds for overnighters.

Dutch designer Marijn Beije developed this floating chalet in cooperation with the De Biesbosch National Park in the Netherlands. “These days character has to compete with Xbox games and roller coaster rides, plus it often loses,” says Beije. Called Freefloating for brief, the structure allows people to experience nature on multiple levels — water, land and sky — in minimalist, contemporary luxury. “I wanted people to be able to focus on the beauty around them without interfering,” says Beije.

Builder: APEcolodges

Marijn Beije Layout

Beije gave the arrangement a catamaran-based shape with two parallel, floating hulls. It can connect to a bowl or float freely in the water. Each floating hull has. 1 tank holds filthy water; another holds drinking water.

Marijn Beije Layout

FSC-certified Western red cedar and tempered safety glass fill the construction’s aluminum frame.

Marijn Beije Layout

A solar panel provides the lodge’s power. Although sustainability had an effect on Freefloating’s design, Beije looked at the bigger picture instead of implementing every ecofriendly characteristic possible. “I think that a design should be sustainable in a way that’s so beautiful, nicely made and that individuals have such an emotional bond with, that they don’t want to part with it,” he says.

Marijn Beije Layout

1 cottage has a locking bathroom cabinet and a very small kitchenette. There’s also a stationary seat with a partially underwater view.

Marijn Beije Layout

The other cottage holds four beds that fold in the cedar walls, with a floor-to-ceiling view of the sky and water. “Nature is presented here as if it were on a theater screen,” says Beije. The cabin’s rocking movement lulls overnighters to sleep.

Marijn Beije Layout

The simple cabin contours make the beautiful outdoor environment, instead of the lodge itself, that the highlight of staying in Freefloating. “I wanted it to melt into the landscape,” says Beije.

Marijn Beije Layout

A patio connects the two cottages and contributes up to a crow’s nest via another ladder. The perch sits nearly 15 feet over the water, offering a bird’s-eye view of the lodge’s environment.

Despite its simple appearance, Freefloating offers an incontrovertible sense of luxury. “Folks want a standard of luxury and convenience. I gave them just that,” says Beije. “Freefloating is, more than anything else, barefoot luxury.”

Watch more of our favorite garden escapes

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We all know a ranch home from our past. Odds are, you grew up in a single, or your grandparents lived within one their entire lives, or your best friend lived in a single round the corner.

This popular house design spread from coast to coast in the U.S. in great numbers during the 20th century. Look back to 1930s California, where the design originated in the work of several prosperous architects. Their clients bought an acre or two within 10, 20 or even 30 kilometers of metropolitan centers. Inexpensive property was plentiful at that moment. This opportunity for generous spaces set a framework for ranch-style layout, which borrowed characteristics of the preceding Prairie and Craftsman styles, together with Spanish colonial architecture.

The Prairie design proved a long, low and horizontal elevation, while Craftsman cued using exposed rafter tails in open eaves and other easy wooden details. More important, Spanish colonial structure in California encouraged the idea of rambling floor plans with wide porches extending from main roofs.

Throughout the country at the following three decades the proliferation of the car allowed many suburban tracts to be set out in 1/4- to 1-acre parcels. Consider that a quarter acre is a bit more than 10,000 square feet, and you can see the way the normal single-level 1,500-square-foot ranch home and 400-square-foot garage lazily and easily spread itself out using 8,100 square feet to spare.

Genesis Architecture, LLC.

Designs that created parallel to ranch design could be traced to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright. He created several styles, including Prairie design, and he also established the Usonian house design in the 1930s, promoting it as an ideal model for the American middle class.

Notice that the long and very low facade, or elevation,of the 1956 Usonian-inspired house. A mixture of stone and wood feels casual and inviting, and the home stretches from one side to the other openly. On the other hand, the apartment roof did not translate into the ranch style that developed in California.

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

This newer California home was made in a Spanish colonial style. Notice the gable roof types together with parts extending widely to make ample porches. Different sections of the structure surround a courtyard, defining a important exterior relationship to the entire composition. The original ranch design recorded these components more but still had the same rambling form.

Because the design became so popular, there are several variations. As with this home, many have some Spanish details, such as tile roofs, but some seem pastoral and may have wood shingle roofs. Some could be considered traditional, while some can be contemporary or contemporary.

The most common thread is a lengthy and very low asymmetrical appearance with generous porches or entry covers and also a free-flowing form.

Carson Poetzl, Inc..

Certainly this home depends upon Spanish designnevertheless, describing it as a Spanish ranch probably suits it best. An asymmetrical elevation rambles in varying shapes and sizes in two instructions in this picture. Details are easy and minimal, although the connection to Spanish is evident, the translation has a massing freely aligned into the wandering configuration that is feature of the ranch style.

Curtis Lawson Homes

Not to be confused with minimalist conventional, this conventional ranch is different in the former due to its lower pitched roof; it’s a generous front or rear porch and a wider elevation. Exterior materials vary widely on the ranch fashion. Most original California examples used stucco wood siding of different kinds. More common into the Midwest and Texas is brick veneer, such as on this particular home.

Global Home Improvement

This recently remodeled ranch home feels traditional in makeup but achieves a rustic effect with its brick color and metallic roof. Notice the green lawn and plentiful vegetation surrounding this home. This type of setting attracted many 20th-century homeowners wishing to raise families. Large yards where they could let their children play and the chance to accomplish a sense of independence and privacy also made the motif alluring.

ROTHERS Design/Build

This remodeled ranch home exemplifies the versatility and potential variations of the design. No two components are identical, however all flow from one to another. The stone-veneer centre portion anchors front having a complementary stone chimney. The milder shingled extensions dance across the landscape, decreasing the garage doors in comparison to the diameter of the home’s elevation.

Tom Meaney Architect, AIA

Notice that the huge red brick chimney on this traditional-style ranch home. Large Granite fireplaces indicate another common element of the design. Particular for this particular one, a full-width front porch with bracketed article details adds to its personality. Two large bay windows contribute to the theme and spread easily beneath the broad porch.

Cramer Kreski Designs

The ranch-style house has turned into one of the most common forms to be remodeled, for several reasons. As mentioned before, most were sited on generous parcels, allowing lots of space for expansion. When most originals are quite small, with small bathrooms and kitchens, they are often located in first-tier suburbs. These locations are ideal for commuters with green thumbs.

Design Discoveries

The rustic board and batten siding, that is not uncommon on originals, on this particular remodeled ranch paradoxically looks painted white, in a contemporary style. Also common in ranch design, the prominent and/or gigantic chimney anchors the otherwise horizontal arrangement. Be aware that the garage looks secondary and slight into the front part of the home. Typical of the sprawling ranch has been minimized visual impact of the garage doors.

Webber + Studio, Architects

Though many ranch home designs are covered with a gable roof, they can also be seen with hip roofs, as for this case. This remodeled home was carefully detailed to keep up the low horizontal impression common to the design. Again, notice that the garage door does not control the view from the street. Many ranch houses of all types have large picture windows, such as those you see here. They are often placed in the front, positioned in a large living space, but are more frequently placed facing the garden.

RD Architecture, LLC

Ranch designs of the 1960s mirrored midcentury modernism by incorporating lengthy, blank facades and monolithic rooflines. The designer of the accession to this Houston-area example has left the initial scheme intact. These types are discovered throughout the U.S.

This beautifully comprehensive new contemporary home unites smoke-colored brick veneer, a light-colored Spanish tile roof, and cedar and ipe wood siding. Its details reach an intricate composition that resembles the linear Usonian home shown in the first photo.

Bosworth Hoedemaker

Roof types of ranch-style designs vary from gable and hip forms to combinations of the two, as you can see in this contemporary version. The steeper pitch of the upper gable roof allows a shed dormer to be placed comfortably in the scheme. Note the way the rustic atmosphere and substances are encapsulated into a certain sculptural form. The layout does not ramble but nevertheless spreads widely along its site.

Several facets of the new home transcend ranch-style attributes. A huge masonry chimney with exterior and interior functions anchors the layout. Porch overhangs extend out of the principal structure, eliminating the need for articles. The cross-gable roof form echoes its ancestors, while white clapboard siding and a standing-seam metallic roof convey a contemporary aesthetic. Watch a Tour of the endeavor

The ranch motif seems to still be cherished in many regions of the U.S. Probably as a result of large numbers constructed in the 20th century and the abundance of suburban spaces in distant regions of the country, the design will continue to draw a considerable following in the future.

More: Cliff May’s California ranch design | Read thousands of ranch-style homes

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Purchasing a new home can seem complex, but with adequate preparation the buy and closing can be comparatively stress-free. In order to assess how much the home will cost, either in the short term and long duration, you’ll have to figure the down payment and any closing costs that are due at the time of compensation. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), lenders are expected to give home buyers a fantastic Faith Estimate before administering a loan. If your closing prices seem much different from the Good Faith Estimate, then be sure to consult your lender before settlement.

Compute the payment. Down payment amounts fluctuate based on someone’s credit history, income, mortgage type and complete price of the home. For example, if the price of your home is $80,000 and you have been approved for an FHA loan with a 3.5 percent down payment, your total down payment amount will be 3.5 percent of their entire home price. To calculate, simply move the decimal point on the percentage two places to the left (.035), then multiply this number by the entire home price ($80,000). In our example, the total down payment will be $2,800.

Calculate closing prices. Mortgage-Investments. Com gives a valuable overview of shared closing costs, even though they do change by individual cases. First, put in any prices that are associated with your home loan. These include loan origination, credit report, home evaluation, underwriting, tax service and flood certificate fees.

Add up any title fees, like closing fees, title policy fees, endorsements or courier fees.

Add any interest fees or insurance fees that may be necessary at the time of closing.

Add any necessary escrow costs. Escrow fees are sometimes required by lenders. They guarantee that a home buyer will have adequate funds set aside to meet all financial requirements.

Add all of the totals you calculated in steps 2 through 5. This is your closing cost level.

Add the down payment amount into the closing cost amount. The total is about what you are going to need to pay at closing.

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Embracing simple summer living can be as straightforward as spending some time each day on your backyard. There’s something utterly relaxing about hanging out on the porch, whether it’s to sip morning coffee or unwind in the end of the day — then there’s the additional perk of making your area feel warmer, friendlier and more connected. Make your porch a location you can’t wait to spend some time on with these 11 simple, amazing ideas.

Wettling Architects

1. Channel the Hamptons. Natural wood, sandy beige and blue create a classic beach house combination that works anywhere. Engineered teak furniture fades to sandy gray as it weathers, and it seems just right with indigo and linen-hued cushions and cut hydrangeas.

See how to groom a beach house, from deck to drawer knobs

Historical Concepts

2. Reach the flea market. Digging for treasures at outside flea markets and summertime yard earnings is always an adventure. Folding chairs, classic wicker and little wood tables are organic choices, but keep an eye out for interesting containers for plants, mirrors and art, also. Imperfect finds you could pass up to your living room could be piled onto a summer porch, so keep an open mind.

Linn Gresham Haute Decor

3. Set up an outside dining space. Eating al fresco is even more pleasant when you’ve taken care to create your space as comfy as you can. Begin by using a table as big as will comfortably fit on your own porch — ample room is best for leisurely meals. Add plump cushions to chairs, line your desk with lanterns and hang rope lights overhead.

Barn Light Electric Company

4. Bring shade outside with cut flowers. Next time you are cutting blossoms out of the garden or scooping up a market bouquet, why not take a couple extra to your porch? Vases of flowers or possibly a little posy would be unexpected and completely charming on the porch — you can sit and love the blossoms as you sip your morning coffee.

Shelter 7

5. Hang a porch swing. Only considering a porch swing invites relaxation. And swinging on a single while fretting on a summer afternoon is even better. Be sure to get help hanging your swing therefore it has the appropriate support.

Cortney Bishop Design

6. Repurpose and refresh. Take advantage of a free weekend to liven up your porch with a couple creative DIY projects. Fashion a stump into a plant stand, give your porch flooring a coat of colour or whip up some new cushions utilizing vintage fabric or inexpensive burlap.

Kate Jackson Design

7. Display summer equipment. Prop up that surfboard, screw in a couple of hooks to hang wet beach towels on and toss sandals in a basket by the door. By providing your most often used summer items a home, you will make things easier on yourself and make instant decor.

Wind and Willow Home

8. Stencil a message. Eschew the typical welcome mat in favor of something more creative: words stenciled directly on the floor. Paint words onto the steps, front walk or porch floor to get a personal touch.

Cassie Daughtrey Realogics Sotheby’s Realty

9. Monogram it. Oversize monograms are an enjoyable way to set your house apart from the neighbors’. Embellish plain letters in the craft store or keep an eye out at flea markets and thrift shops for classic letters made from metal or wood. Do not wish to use your initials? Display the abbreviation to your town instead.

Terracotta Design Build

10. Cool down. If sunlight and heat are keeping you from appreciating your porch just as much as you could, an outdoor ceiling fan or some pair of outside drapes could help. Bonus: The moving air by a fan might help discourage mosquitoes, also.

Crisp Architects

11. Create a cozy spot for two. Rather than letting it sit fill that little nook or awkward corner with a pair of chairs and a little table. Bring out coffee in the morning, a publication and iced tea in the afternoon, or even a nosh and a glass of wine as the sun dips in the day.

Tongue & Groove

Tell us : What is your favorite way to use your porch in the summertime?

More: Banish the bugs that this summer

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I became a gardener 17 decades ago when we bought our first house, a north-facing ranch set on a corner of a block in which the remaining homes faced east or west. We had two side yards and a small front yard. On the rear was about 10 ft of yard, which split the south side of the house by our neighbor’s driveway. There and on the west side, there was no garden in any way, just grass right up to the base.

The east lawn, on the other side of the attached garage, was ruled by trees. There certainly are a bit of earth cover and a few shrubs. Half the yard was thick and luxuriant, but the other was scraggly and more dirt than anything due to the colour.

The brunt of this landscaping was dedicated into the front lawn. Does that sound like an attack? There were 14 footprints jammed to the beds on either side of the front entrance, and they had been a hodgepodge of types, planted without any thought for layout or even reason.

Amy Martin Landscape Design

I was eager to start gardening but felt overwhelmed with just how much needed to be achieved; each lawn seemed to be yelling for attention. My husband, Paul, and I had been the parents of a kid, as well as new homeowners, and our budget was small. Paul had no interest in gardening and was dedicated to the most minimal of care: mowing. I was dreaming about creating a thing Garden of Eden–ish, or its own 21st-century approximation; never mind that I knew next to nothing about gardening.

I had a huge vision but no plan. I handled my yards with energy and passion, learning as I went, but I took the long way around and ultimately generated more work than was sensible for me to keep the point of life, if ever whatsoever.

If this is your very first season of lawn gardening and care, here’s the advice that I wish I’d been given when I was in your shoes.

1. Clean up. You may not want to listen to that, but it is in fact the very first and most important thing to do. Begin with the yard even in the event that you have more weeds than real bud; mow it and give it a good raking. Spring raking removes thatch and any debris in the fall and winter. When you look closely at this film, you are going to observe the yard is somewhat bare, and except for your trees and a couple of shrubs there are not many plants, but it’s beautifully kept and very gratifying — a lovely, peaceful place in which to unwind.

Watch more of this house, which has emerged on Portlandia

2. Pot any existing garden beds. If you are such a beginner that you are not quite sure you’ll understand a marijuana from a perennial, that is OK. Snap some pictures and take them into your local garden centre or post them in the Design Dilemmas section in Discussions, and also a kindly gardener will most likely help you.

guides to winning the marijuana war

jenny_hardgrave

3. Edge your garden beds. This is only developing a clean split between the bud and the garden place, as revealed here. Take a flat-edged spade and “cut” across the edge of your bed. If your beds are straight lines, then that is where you can get creative and add some curves.

Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

If your grass is thick, then this could become a really big job quickly, so I do not advise expanding existing beds your very first season.

Edging materials can be utilized, but I would not bother. I actually removed the black plastic ones from my very first garden, because I didn’t like the appearance and they didn’t do the job. I prefer the cleaner look of the yard meeting the soil covered with compost, which brings me to my fourth suggestion.

Kaufman Construction Design and Build

4. Mulch. If you don’t have many plants, this can be even more important. Mulch produces a tidy appearance, but even more important, it suppresses weeds and helps maintain moisture from the soil. Be mindful to not coating it any thicker than 4 inches, and then leave a little room around the foundation of each plant.

How to Decide on a Mulch — And Your Soil Requires It

Environmental Landscape Associates

5. Edge the yard along sidewalks and your drive. This is like eyeliner; it’ll make everything pop up. If the yard is quite overgrown, rent a gas-powered edger to perform the tough work, but after you do the significant cutting, it can be kept with an electric edger, which can be comparatively cheap. My mum mum (another story!) Enjoys to advantage by hand with a serrated kitchen knife. This works well for smaller tasks, but be cautious!

Dabah landscape designs

You could be asking yourself, but what about gardening? What about the flowers?

This is where things get fun, but you need to focus. If there are limits on your time or your budget — like you will find for nearly everyone — that is crucial.

6. Prioritize. When I reconsider my very first house, I understand that to begin, I should have ignored the west and south yards, where the bud moved right to the brick base. There are worse things than boring, and well kept goes a long way. The east yard, which was the natural play lawn, was not a priority, possibly because our baby was not even ambulatory. When I could do it all over again, I would have focused my very first efforts on the front lawn, the one I actually saw daily.

Pick where you need to begin. Your front lawn is your obvious choice, and also the job may be as straightforward as tidying everything up and flanking the front door with a couple pots of annuals.

It’s really OK to begin slowly. Getting things cleaned up and setting new lawn maintenance routines may be all you would like to handle your very first season.

austin outdoor design

Simply maintaining and cleaning, which is a great deal, you’ll learn whether you really enjoy gardening. If you end up just wanting to be done with it, give yourself a break and choose an easy-care approach. Plant a row of shrubs like hydrangea or boxwood. If you have gratifying foundational plantings, keep them preserved and call it good.

Garden Tech Horticultural Services LLC

If the cleaning gets your heart racing and you are excited for more to come, should you find you can’t wait to get to the planting, odds are that you are a gardener at heart. Now you need to:

Katia Goffin Gardens

7. Determine your own style. Would you like matters manicured and formal or informal? Would you love symmetry?

Or is your joyful “mess” of a cottage garden that which you crave?

Browse through ideabooks and images here on under the Outdoor Living category. As you make your own ideabooks, your preferences and style will emerge.

Maria Hickey & Associates Landscapes

8. Assess conditions. What type of light do you have? Whether your lawn is mostly in sunlight or in the colour, you’ll have to plant so. This can be a disappointment for new anglers, that have dreams of peonies and roses and lilacs dance in their minds. It could be disappointing to think about plants that could manage less sun; it certainly was for me.

I recall reading a variety of writings by gardeners who started with this frustration and discovered that colour gardening became their preference. I discovered this patronizing then, but with time that I too have adopted the special elegance of colour gardens.

7 Shade-Loving Rarities of the Plant World

Donna Lynn – Landscape Designer

As part of analyzing conditions, think about what you already have and what you may want to remove. On our existing property, there is an 8- by 80-foot mattress which runs the span of one our yards and borders the woods. The former homeowner set up a post and rail fence but planted nothing more than 12 inches.

Years ago a friend let me dig everything out and replant it with an assortment of shrubs and perennials. It was amazing, but I’m in the process of taking it all out. Our gardens have changed. I already have so much to keep, and such a massive bed at the border of our house isn’t a priority. We removed the weapon, and I’m in the process of removing the plants. Many I will Have the Ability to reuse, but some I will be offering to friends, which Is the Reason Why you should:

9. Put the word out. As you start to understand exactly what you would like and need, let folks know. What you are longing for — a row of peonies or even a bed of ferns — may be the very thing a friend, or even a friend of a friend is trying to part with.

Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab

10. Appreciate the beauty. A gardener learns how to take the long view, and you must, or how could you bear to wait years for your vision to come to — sometimes literal — fruition? One of the hazards is the tendency to see just what’s wrong and to miss the beauty of now. Do not let that happen with you. Week by week, even day by day if you are able, take some opportunity to observe and appreciate all you’ve accomplished.

More: What to Do On Your Garden Today | Guides into Flowers

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Architects Audrey McEwen and Jon Gaiser purchased this 1970s San Diego townhouse with the goal of using it as a blank-slate new abode. They made decisions carefully to keep costs down but still make an impact. Using the initial floor plan, adhering to the property’s footprint and searching for materials and appliances at great prices helped them stay on track with their budget. “What we can’t afford to purchase, we do not,” says McEwen.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Audrey McEwen and Jon Gaiser
Location: San Diego
Size: 900 square feet
Price of update: $38,000 (for appliances, materials, demolition, plumbing and electrical work)

Jon+Aud Design

Clean, light and chic materials give the townhouse a modern and glowing appearance. Most of the original structure remains — that the few was lucky to discover a room with a lofted ceiling and an open loft bedroom.

Both trained architects, McEwen and Gaiser measured the whole space and created a new plan using Google SketchUp.

Sculpture:”Seagulls” by Curtis Jere, eBay; wall paint: Swiss Coffee, Behr; upholstered chairs: Adrian Pearsall for Craft, Etsy

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

The 1977 townhouse had some interesting geometry, which interested the couple, but everything felt beige and dull.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: Handcrafted and refurbished decor and bamboo-clad openings add visual interest. The couple wanted a very basic material palette, and bamboo’s strength and ecofriendly nature made it a simple option. Used on all the wood accents and flooring, the bamboo generates uniformity.

Jon+Aud Design

The pair inherited some furniture however, discovered most of their midcentury bits on Craigslist and eBay, refurbishing most of them. McEwen made her own Alexander Calder–inspired mobile.

Some custom bits add for their minimalist appearance, too. McEwen’s father, Neal McEwen, is a talented woodworker who aided her design and build the living room console, hallway bench, dining table and other bits.

Sofa: Tazlow Sofa Bed, Madoka Modern; hardwood flooring: Morning Star Natural Strand Bamboo, Lumber Liquidators

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

A pantry between the kitchen and the dining area made the old kitchen feel shut off from the adjacent dining room and living area.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: McEwen and Gaiser moved the pantry to the other side of the kitchen entrance, creating a simpler entrance to the dining area and pub. McEwen made the table, and her father built it. The authentic Mies van der Rohe MR chairs were an extraordinary Craigslist find. Bamboo panels help offset the uniquely angled kitchen .

Jon+Aud Design

Not surprisingly, the kitchen updates ended up being the most expensive section of the remodel, costing roughly $17,000. The couple spent $13,000 on demolition, installing new drywall and plaster, cabinetry, appliances, and pipes and electrical work.

McEwen features most of their funding luck to timing. Since they started their remodel during the summer and spring, a great deal of semiannual and yearly earnings helped them cut down on prices.

Microwave, oven, cooker: Ikea; fridge: Whirlpool

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

Dark cabinetry, fluorescent light and mismatched appliances designed for a poorly lit and outdated-looking kitchen.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: One of the few splurges is that the kitchen countertop — that the Pure White Caesarstone price about $3,500. Integrating the stovetop using the countertop made for an extra-clean appearance.

Countertops: Pure White Ceasarstone; cabinetry: Ikea; backsplash : Arctic White subway tile, Daltile

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

The old staircase wasn’t very eye catching.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: Adaptive but strong 14-foot bamboo rods line the stairs for a straightforward but statement-making bannister. An affordable carpet remnant from a local producer’s warehouse outlines the measures.

Bench: made by McEwen, assembled by Neal McEwen

Jon+Aud Design

“We really love the appearance of bamboo,” says McEwen. “The grain is subtle, and also the mild end enhances rather than distracts from the glowing overall atmosphere we had been attempting to achieve.”

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

The old fashioned bedroom and bathroom felt too open to the main living room below. Only a very low half wall and a little but embarrassing column kept it from being completely open.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: A higher partition makes the bedroom feel more separated from the living room. The brand new wall now holds all of the wiring to the new Nelson Bubble Lamp hanging below.

Sideboard: inherited Danish teak credenza; ceiling fan: Artemis, Minka Aire

Jon+Aud Design

Next to the closet, the open master bathroom has his-and-her sinks, with a private shower and toilet area.

Jon+Aud Design

A small window in the bathroom lets extra all-natural light in.

Before Photo

Jon+Aud Design

Bland carpeting, bare lightbulbs and cookie cutter remover materials made for a drab and somewhat depressing master bathroom.

Jon+Aud Design

AFTER: With some careful budgeting, the couple ended up spending about $4,000 on the master bathroom. They found great deals on the cabinetry and sink, and also cut and set most of the tile themselves.

The price that ended up surprising the few — in the bathroom and in the rest of the house — was light and electrical work. They had all the present lighting replaced with LED (light-emitting diode) and energy-saving fittings, and upgraded all the outlets and switches. “It’s a pet peeve of mine when all the switch plates and outlets are mismatched,” says McEwen. “These small upgrades really add up.”

Backsplash tile: Creama River Rock Mosaic, Jeffrey Court; vanity: Godmorgon sink cupboard, Ikea; faucet: Braviken, Ikea; faucets: Vega in polished chrome, Pfister

Jon+Aud Design

McEwen always wanted a succulent garden, so that she made use of the tall cacti already in the backyard. A brick terrace helps keep the area low maintenance.

Jon+Aud Design

String lights hung from the arbor add to the outside space’s warm vibe at nighttime. An extra-large mirror makes the terrace feel more spacious.

Would they’ve done anything else? Even though they saved some money doing most of the demolition themselves, McEwen would certainly hire someone later on. The work itself was challenging, then they still had to haul off all of the junk. “You need to be emotionally emotionally and financially committed whenever you are doing a total renovation to your home,” she says.

Have you got a great DIY home? We’d really like to see it. Please place a photo below!

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Here are a number of simple images to quench your thirst for a well-designed life.

See what I did there? I understand. I’m sorry.

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture

Jody Brown Architecture

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture

Jody Brown Architecture

Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Jody Brown Architecture

This explains a great deal, really.

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The 2013 Oscars are making us wish to give some movie-related awards of their own — Lifetime Achievement Awards for movie houses which have stolen our hearts through the years.

These are areas that have wedged themselves to our subconscious; they inspire us when we’re decorating our own homes and slide into our heads when we’re daydreaming about the perfect residence. (Side note: I’d like to thank the community for nominating a lot of these here.)

The considerate house collection designs in the movies below represent a variety of styles, each one attractive in its own way. Here are 10 movies with houses we’d love to walk the red carpet for — straight up the front walk and through the front door.

Most Beautiful Plantation House: Forrest Gump. The race was tight between this house and Tara, but Sally Field’s Southern house in this one is Gone With the Wind fabulous. We love the allee of trees which trickle Spanish moss, the dual porch, the method by which in which the breeze makes the curtains billow and the superb old tree where Forrest teaches Jenny the way to dangle.

Amazon

Greatest Shingle-Style Beach House: Something’s GotId Offer. This is the community’s favorite movie house. The airy Hamptons beach house of Diane Keaton’s character has become the dream house yardstick. We want the kitchen, the trendy coastal shore, windows with transoms that look out to the beach and even the bowl full of accumulated stones (with all the black one on top). We’re not sure if we need the cigar-smoking emotionally stunted houseguest, though … really, we’ll take Jack Nicholson regardless of how obnoxious he’s acting.

By the way, we’re letting this you represent all of the enviable homes in director Nancy Meyers’ movies, such as The Holiday, It is Complicated and the LiLo version of The Parent Trap, which are er favorites when it comes to movie houses.

Amazon

Under the Tuscan Sun (Widescreen Edition) – $10.66

Greatest Italian Villa: Under the Tuscan Sun. Diane Lane transforms her darkened life while mending a dilapidated Tuscan villa. We want the window boxes, the walls, the European antiques, and the quirky neighbors, the olive grove and the garden. We’ll leave out the large snake that comes through the window, though — that scene still gives me the willies.

Amazon

Practical Magic – $5.97

Greatest Victorian House: Practical Magic. The turreted Salem, Massachusetts, home of witches performed by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman is a great spot for casting spells, stirring potions and gathering a coven of all nonwitches. Just be careful what you bury in the yard and do not attempt flying off the roof with an umbrella on Halloween.

Amazon

Marley & Me – $13.69

Greatest Farmhouse: Marley & Me. The idyllic stone Pennsylvania farmhouse featured toward the close of the movie is quite a contrast to the Miami ranch house at the beginning. Fall leaves, stone walls and Oriental rugs allow us want to flake out like a dog in front of a few of the roaring fireplaces and stay awhile.

Amazon

Best Vintage Colonial: Father of the Bride. This lovely Los Angeles house is a standard American dream — it has white siding and black dividers, is full of cozy family-friendly spaces and has a basketball hoop for serious father-daughter bonding time.

Amazon

Monster-in-Law – $4.99

Greatest Arts and Crafts House: Monster-in-Law. While Jane Fonda’s mother-in-law character turns the house into something out of a horror flick, the lovely woodwork and Craftsman details ease the terror. Also, the stylish interiors may very well cause the surge in demand for vintage black and white subway signals, which are used throughout the main floor.

Amazon

A Single Person – $7.99

Greatest Midcentury Modern Home: A Single Person. You’ll be able to see the evidence of manager Tom Ford’s keenly discerning eye in every frame of the film. Colin Firth’s heartbroken character’s perfect modern house is a scene stealer, and the Hollywood Regency decoration of the neighbor throughout the road (played by Julianne Moore) deserves an honorable mention.

Amazon

Sleepless in Seattle (10th Anniversary Edition) – $6.27

Greatest Houseboat: Sleepless in Seattle. We’ve been so charmed by living on the water as in this romantic comedy. We’ll take the views, the clean lines and the floating. It is a compelling setting for a single father raising his son.

Amazon

Down with Love – $4.42

Best Swinging-’60s Manhattan Pad: Away With Love. We have a tie between Renee Zellweger’s character’s feminine model and Ewan McGregor’s character’s manly spin on the style.

Along with your winners are … ? ers, please inform us which classic movie homes you would like to get a Lifetime Achievement Award.

More: 10 Leading-Role Movie Homes

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A good deal of effort goes into deciding on just the right window treatments. And tassels, 1 kind of tieback, are important finishing touches that need as much careful consideration. With a layout history rooted at a centuries-old craft, tassels are lots more than decorations — they help invite beautiful light into our rooms, frame a gorgeous view or highlight our favorite French doors. Use this accent to add decoration and charm to your interiors.

Reaume Construction & Design

The very first Tassels

Tassels are part of the trimming family. However, “trimming” always seems too simple of a phrase for such exuberant accessories, that explains why I prefer the French phrase “passementerie” to describe these fanciful embellishments. “Passementerie” originates in the term “passement,” which clarifies silver or gold lace and braiding.

Edwina Drummond Interiors

The very first tassel was recorded thousands of years ago as a weaving knot used to tie off garments and rugs. The embellishment subsequently developed through the work of artisans in ancient Rome, Persia and Greece.

In Roman times, tassels on the clergy’s garments distinguished their status within the church hierarchy. Basket carriers during religious processions, called cannofori, were the only ones permitted to use tassels.

Kevin Kelly Interiors

Tassels at the 17th Century

France dominated the art of the tassel in the 17th century. 1 tassel was often composed of up to six carved and coated wooden forms in a flat, faceted, dome or pear shape. These tassels incorporated ornaments and several different varieties of fringe, such as inch, gimp, trellis, butterfly, tufted and swagged.

Even a simple French tassel in this time had at least 300 threads. This lovely Nobilis-Fontan tassel could have found a home in any 17th-century sitting room.

Dillard Pierce Design Associates

Tassels at the 18th Century

From the late 1800s, members of this European retailer class were decorating houses with a particular refinement. They followed popular trends of the time that encouraged elegance and style.

Tassels of lace, wool and cotton have been in prosperity, trimming everything from furniture and draperies to women’ shoes.

Cohn + Associates

Tassels at the Early 20th Century

The early 20th century saw simpler, less-adorned tassels, shunning the previous surplus of Victorian designs.

Jessica Risko Smith Interior Design

Rayon materials and geometric shapes started to be used in the art deco era, and just two colours at one time. Vibrant colors like blue, orange, black and green became the go-to colours.

Much like with this smart Roman colour, key tassels were utilized as an adornment on soft furnishings at the early 20th century. They were an affordable way to add colour and interest.

BR Interior Designs

Contemporary Tassels

The art deco era was followed by a period of more minimalism in passementerie. As structure changed, wood, glass and metal became fashionable materials, and tassel production dropped dramatically.

From the early 1900s, Paris had more than 70 manufacturers of tassels, with just a third living the industrial revolution. Now just a couple of producers still function — such as Passementerie Nouvelle, run by five generations of the Declercq family.

The chrome tassel in this picture is truly a chain removed from a light fixture combined with a tieback.

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A lot of men and women are taking work home with them nowadays, and having a great home office is essential. Inspiration may come from several outlets, but the first place to begin is your desk. The key question is, how do you make your office both efficient and inspirational?

While exploring ideas for my own home office, I accumulated images of my favourite spaces and recognized the very best ones had some special details in common: a desk with storage, a fantastic light, an ergonomic seat and excellent organizational tools.

Other important aspects include using a very clear design vision, picking objects that you love and that spark imagination and, paradoxically, understanding that a pop of colour is a fantastic thing! — Lauren from Fourth Floor Walk Up

Lexington Modern

Malibu High-Back Office Chair in Vinyl with Stitched Ribbing – $239

1 way to add interest to a workplace is to select a colorful chair. Say goodbye to the typical, black office upholstery, and say hello to posh furniture.

Anthropologie

Correspondence Desk – $1,298

This handsome and refined desk from Anthropologie includes all of the needed features of a fantastic desk: drawers to include clutter, shelves to hold the large office accessories plus also a large, ample space to distribute your work.

Circa Lighting

Lauren Table Lamp – $336

A beautiful and soothing shade, this table lamp in celadon green could be a great light fixture for the home office.

shop.freshly-picked. com

Leather Mouse Pad, Gold – $35

Chic mouse pads? Yesthey really do exist!

Jayson Home

Color Pencil and Brass Holder Set – $75

I purchased this colored pencil set for a unique event, and I have been lusting after it ever since. The holder inspires me to sketch out a gorgeous room rendering.

Williams-Sonoma Home

LaCourte Upright Desk – $3,450

This secretary-style desk is a slick white box on the outside, and it could be an appealing addition to almost any area. When opened, the contrasting rich wood tones are only as striking.

Museum of Useful Things

Pencil Dispenser – $18

This pen holder arouses nostalgic memories of the diner straw holders. A little playfulness can go a very long way when working difficult.

West Elm

Alphabet Letter Paperweights – $8

These Alphabet paperweights at a vintage font are the perfect desktop accessory.

Staples

Martha Stewart Home Office™ with Avery™ File Folders – $4.99

“Organization is the key to success,” is a phrase I’ve heard often over time. A great way to organize an office is through color coordinating, and such folders by Martha Stewart create beautiful colour stories.

Schoolhouse Electric

Topographic USA Wall Map – $40

I love the colours of the topographic map. It’s also a wise piece of artwork to add to your office for those days when you are day dreaming of traveling.

Ballard Designs

Macau Armchair with Casters – $279

The bamboo Chippendale-style seat is a traditional design loved by many. This replica seat by Ballard Designs with wheels is the perfect upgrade to a classic.

PLANTATION

Barton Task Lamp – $550

I’m totally in love with this task light. Together with the abundant brass base and chartruese green glass, it’s a lot of search for a background lamp.

HW Home

Shelby Desk – $1,680

To get a more modern look, this dining table has a unique shape and design with low-slung drawers that double as shelves for bigger objects.

Etsy

Chevron Monogram Dry Erase Memo Board by Studio Elle – $25

Note-taking is a significant facet to staying on top of projects, and doing this sustainably with this customizable, dry erase board is even better.

Levenger

Moleskine® Digital Folio for iPad – $89.95

Most of us love our modern-day apparatus that make both everyday and work life easier, but occasionally we still want to hand-write notes or workout ideas. This iPad case and notebook by Moleskine is an excellent layout!

Jamali Floral & Garden Supplies

Polished Brass Julep Cups – $6.99

Mint julep cups are preferred by many for drinking. But, repurposing them into pen and pencil holders brings a bit of class to your desktop computer, especially in the brass end.

Anthropologie

Scattered Corolla Rug, Oval – $298

To maintain hardwood floors free from wear and scratches, put a rug underneath your workspace. This oval carpet is a beautiful and colorful option.

Anthropologie

Paris Paper Tape – $18

Clear tape is a necessity in any home office, but using attractively printed tape at a Parisian theme makes the mundane more exciting.

DwellStudio

Golden Gate Lacquered Wood Tray – $98

Maintaining papers and miscellaneous materials organized is essential. This yellow and wood printed tray for the desktop is a superb tool for doing that.

Schoolhouse Electric

Schoolhouse Extension Cord, Green Cloth – $39

Sometimes there’s no possible way to hide the jumble of extension cords that live inside your office. A great solution is to buy these alluring strings and showcase your electrical systems instead.

Next: Create a Home Office on a Shoestring Budget

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